Interview with magician, entertainer, and author Arjay Lewis

Arjay Lewis joins me today to talk about his new horror paranormal novel, The Muse: A Novel of Unrelenting Terror.

Bio:

Arjay Lewis (aka R.J. Lewis) is an award-winning author, entertainer and magician. He has experienced every level of show business from street-performing to Broadway.

Arjay’s published stories have appeared in H.P. Lovecraft Magazine of Horror, Weird Tales, and Sherlock Holmes Mystery Magazine. He also has been published in the anthology The Ultimate Halloween. His novel Homes & Watkins, The Mystery of the Manacled Man, was a finalist in the 2016 Murder & Mayhem Novel Competition for Chanticleer Book Reviews.

           

He has collaborated on several films including: DOWN IN FLAMES, The True Story of Tony ‘Volcano’ Valenci – which has won seven Film Festival awards. His screenplay for DUMMY (co-written with Pamela Wess) is the winning screenplay for the 2017 Garden State Film Festival. It also won 4th place in the 2016 Writer’s Digest Screenplay Competition.

           

Arjay is married to his wife, Debra, and has one daughter Rayna. He is currently performing on the Princess Cruise Line as the ‘Magic Maker’ in the hit show, MAGIC TO DO.

Welcome, Arjay. Please tell us about your current release, The Muse.

Famed horror writer Jack Court is a man with a secret. Besides his hobby as a brutal serial killer, he possesses a living creature within his body that enables him to write brilliantly as well as avoid capture. On his trail is Sheriff Neil Trajan, who is sure Court murdered his wife three years earlier.

When struck by a local man’s truck Jack’s creature leaves him, and through a series of events finds its way to down-on-his-luck author Harry Godwine, who begins to write on a much higher level.

However, Jack’s body is undergoing odd physical changes, and he has become obsessed with recovering his lost companion.

This leads to a violent situation, as Court seeks the other man, leaving a trail of destruction, while pursued by Trajan and his FBI associate, Bill Morris.

Can they stop Court before he rejoins with the creature? And who will have to die so that he can retrieve it?

What inspired you to write this book?

In June of 1999, out of the blue I had the desire to write a horror tale called The Dark. I had never written horror before and the idea of a night guard who saw things in the dark—that were actually there— was a leap for me. (That story eventually sold to H.P. Lovecraft Magazine of Horror.)

It wasn’t until the next day, when I read the news that Stephen King had been hit by a truck in Maine that I had the oddest feeling, and I thought to myself, “It was as if something needed that story to be written and since he couldn’t, it moved to me.” This, of course, was the height of ego. Mr. King is an amazing wordsmith and teller of tall tales, and far more adept a writer than I. But the thought stuck with me and I wondered what it would be like if there was something— an actual physical entity that could help people write— and not just write, but write best sellers.

That concept became The Muse.

Excerpt from The Muse: A Novel of Unrelenting Terror:

She gave a nod to Franz and the image began to advance. Neil could see the internal organs move slowly as Godwine drew breath.
Suddenly, the nautilus shape turned an even brighter shade of yellow and quivered. It happened so quickly that Neil thought it was a trick of the eye.
“What the hell—” was all Neil could say.
"What did we just see?” Morris asked, stunned as well.
Dr. Ross pulled the pencil eraser with her teeth as she chose her words carefully. “Whatever it is, it’s alive.”

What exciting story are you working on next?

I have more of the “IN THE MIND” series coming. It is a first-person Mystery series following a psychic detective who works with the local police.

I also have a stand-alone book, The Wizards of Central Park West— which I call the “Ultimate Urban Fantasy” being released in 2018.

When did you first consider yourself a writer?

I have been writing all my life, and stories are always coming to me. First, plays and scripts for live Murder Mystery shows. (www.lethallaughs.com). Then I wrote short stories that were published. I then starting to write novels in the 1990’s.

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 am currently the magician on a cruise ship, and perform about 3 days a week. I write in the morning, every morning. I achieve a minimum of 1,000 words a day.

What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?

I like to go into the ship’s library to write in the morning. I choose a comfortable chair near the door. So, people think I am there to answer questions, which I try to do politely, and get back to writing.

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

A performer— funny how it turned out

Links:

Website | Facebook | Twitter

Thanks for being here today, Arjay!

Interview with YA author Val Muller

Young adult author Val Muller joins me today to talk about her coming of age novel, The Girl Who Flew Away.

During her virtual book tour, Val will be awarding a $10 Amazon or Barnes and Noble (winner’s choice) gift card and a download code for The Girl Who Flew Away, a download code for The Scarred Letter, a print copy (US only) of The Man with the Crystal Ankh, and an e-book of Corgi Capers: Deceit on Dorset Drive, to a lucky randomly drawn winner. To be entered for a chance to win, use the form below. To increase your chances of winning, feel free to visit her other tour stops and enter there, too.

Bio:

Teacher, writer, and editor, Val Muller grew up in haunted New England but now lives in the warmer climes of Virginia, where she lives with her husband. She is owned by two rambunctious corgis and a toddler. The corgis have their own page and book series at www.CorgiCapers.com.

Val’s young adult works include The Scarred Letter, The Man with the Crystal Ankh, and The Girl Who Flew Away and feature her observations as a high school teacher as well as her own haunted New England past. She blogs weekly at www.ValMuller.com.

Welcome, Val. Please share a little bit about your current release.

The Girl Who Flew Away is about a girl who has never fit in, and in the span of a week learns secrets about her family and her lineage, and creates a few secrets of her own. It’s about addiction, adoption, family, and friendship, blending the challenges of being a teenager with the dangers of the wilderness.

What inspired you to write this book?
As a high school teacher, I see so many students who aren’t outgoing, who aren’t the popular kids, who have these amazing interests that aren’t necessarily mainstream—and yet somehow they seem convinced that their interests and lives aren’t noteworthy. I created Steffie as an embodiment of those types of kids. As she discovers the truth about her family, she learns the end route of the path she is on—the path of low self-esteem and of trying to find gratification in the approval of others. She learns that she is going down that path, too, and has to decide whether she is willing and able to make necessary changes. The more I thought about the book, the more I wondered how I as a person could help others like her.

Excerpt from The Girl Who Flew Away:

My mind races. My tailbone aches. I’m exhausted and scared. Darkness has fallen, and everything takes on a sinister shape. Car headlights seem to glare at me. Even strangers going in and out of the stores look more dangerous.

I feel alone. I think about going back into the store, explaining everything to the clerk, and asking him to call my parents. I look down at Sally’s dragonfly necklace. I wonder how many times in Sally’s life she must have been scared and felt hopeless and had nowhere to go. If she could do it, then the least I can do is spend a few extra hours trying to rescue my friend. When a police car pulls into the convenience store parking lot, I dash out of the way and resolve to make it to the park somehow.

The park is a half mile up the road. I know it’s difficult for cars to see me now, so I keep way to the side of the road. Before long, I get off my bike and walk. At the entrance to the park, I realize the gate is locked: no one is admitted inside after dark. It’s a chained fence meant to keep out cars, but I’ll be able to sneak in. I leave my bike at the gate and climb over the barrier—and I’m in the park.

Alone.

What exciting story are you working on next?
My next work is for my Corgi Capers series. It’s a kidlit mystery that takes place in my most feared setting: winter! The novel involves a terrible blizzard that separates and traps characters and tests their limits. I procrastinated in writing it, but that turned out to be a good thing: during our last historic blizzard, I went into labor with my daughter, and I learned first-hand just how emergency responders react when the roads aren’t plowed and someone needs to get to a hospital!

When did you first consider yourself a writer?

Honestly, in first grade we had to write a poem. I wrote mine complete with rhyme and meter, and the first-grade teacher marched me to the front of the lunch line and took the whole class to the fifth-grade wing. She had me read my poem to the fifth-grade teacher, the one who everyone basically considered ruler of the school. I remember my first-grade teacher waiting with me, nodding at the reaction of the fifth-grade teacher. I knew then that I had to write.

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 am a high school English teacher. Before my daughter was born, I got up early and wrote in the hour or so before I had to get ready for work. Now, my mornings are much less predictable. Sometimes if I get to work early, I’ll sit in my car and write. Otherwise, I wait until the kiddo goes to bed and write in the dark hours of the evening. Several of my editors have commented about the fact that I seem to “know teenagers.” I guess I have my job to thank for that!

What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?

I prefer to write out all my stories by hand, even novels. Once in a while, I’ll think faster than I can write, and I’ll jump onto a keyboard. But for each novel I write, I have at least one spiral notebook with scrawled stories on it. I think much more creatively holding a pen than tapping on a keyboard. I guess that explains my pen obsession. I have a wooden treasure box filled with pens.

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

Always a writer! All of my elementary school teachers encouraged me to do so, but I always thought it was something that simply happened passively. It wasn’t until I graduated college that I realized to be a writer, one had to—well, write! On a daily basis!

Links:
Website | Twitter | Facebook

The Girl Who Flew Away:

Free preview + discount code | Amazon | Nook

The Man with the Crystal Ankh: Amazon

Thank you for being a guest on my blog!
Thank you for having me!

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Interview with writer and novelist Jack Hillman

Writer and novelist Jack Hillman joins me today to chat about his new urban fantasy novel, Magic Forgotten.

During his virtual book tour, Jack will be awarding a $10 Amazon or Barnes and Noble (winner’s choice) gift card to a lucky randomly drawn winner. To be entered for a chance to win, use the form below. To increase your chances of winning, feel free to visit his other tour stops and enter there, too.

Bio:

A lifelong Pennsylvania resident, Jack began a love of books sitting amid the mystery of hospitals and medical paraphernalia. Mythology of all cultures and a fascination with martial philosophies led to King Arthur, the knights of the round table and an array of science fiction and fantasy authors that had a strong impact on his life.

Real life got in the way of a writing career to start, but thirty years in the life and medical insurance field led Jack to a job as a stringer for local newspapers and writing for medical and insurance journals. In addition to years in the insurance field Jack also has fifteen years of experience as a journalist and freelance writer, and has even won a Keystone Press Award (1998) for his journalistic efforts. Jack has written on a wide variety of subjects and keeps his hand in medical and insurance matters on a daily basis.

In addition to newspaper reporting and magazine articles, Jack has written articles for a variety websites--some under his own name and some as a behind-the-scenes contributor. Jack's first short fiction piece, a novella, was serialized in an old BBS site in 1992, with the first hard copy magazine story arriving in 1993. Four dinner theater plays written by Jack have been produced and performed for local theater in Eastern Pennsylvania. His novels are now coming to light with the release of There Are Giants in This Valley published by Archebooks Publishing.

With experience as a journalist, short story writer, playwright and novelist, Jack often speaks at writer's conferences, to writer's groups and to school gatherings. If you are looking for a speaker on esoteric subjects, Jack probably has something tucked away in a folder for the occasion.

He lives in eastern Pennsylvania with his supportive wife, a squad of feline editors, and an array of edged weapons to inspire his works.

Welcome, Jack. Please share a little bit about your current release.

A paraplegic, freelance writer named Dan Braden has withdrawn from society only to be dragged back out by the appearance of two strangers in his back yard. They are a Sidhe, the old elves of England, and a human wizardess, a captive of the elf. They are here to take over the world. To the Sidhe’s surprise, he will soon find himself alone in his efforts as the human wizardess and Dan join forces to save the world.

What inspired you to write this book?

Many years of reading stories about elves and magic combined with a friend of mine asking one day” So where did the elves go when they left England?” And a story was born.


Excerpt from Magic Forgotten:
Dan gripped the rails of his chair with both hands, holding himself upright by what little strength remained in his body. The cold touch of the steel tubing seemed to give him energy and he looked up at Baraz.

“What is it you need?” he asked, weakly. The stones permitted this question, perhaps because it was a benefit to Dan’s master. “I can find anything here faster than any visitor. You need me alert and conscious. To get what you need.” Each phrase was a strain to speak, without direction from Baraz.

“We have found what we need, cripple,” Baraz answered. “By now, Thook has discovered the way into the place where they grow the gems we seek.” He stood, pointing to the computer as if the gems were there for display. “That place grows gemstones, an amazing skill I must learn for myself. Two stones of the proper design, placed together inside a spell Thook will prepare, will open a doorway from my world to thine. The light of the sun will rip through the veil and provide the path for my queen to come back to her power.”

           

“You want laser crystals,” Dan exclaimed, the logo now making sense to him. He had seen it before, in an ad in the employment section of the local paper. SolarTech grew laser crystals for industrial use and they were looking for good employees to work in the labs and clean rooms of their facility. “This has got to be the strangest quest I ever heard of,” he mumbled. “You look like a reject from a sword and sorcery movie. Playing with laser crystals, no less.”

“Enough,” Baraz shouted. “Thy place is to obey, nothing more.” He stepped forward and pointed the ax at Dan. “I could dispense with thee now, but that would require another tool in thy place. But soon, fool, thou wilt be as worthless as thou appear. Then I will deal with thy insolence.”

Dan snapped. Baraz was within arm’s reach. Uncaring of the pain caused by the stones on his wrists and forehead, Dan gripped the shaft of the ax. More due to Baraz’s surprise than any martial skill, Dan jerked the ax free, spun it in his hands and swung at Baraz’s stomach. The blade sheared through the tunic, grating on the mail beneath. Dan spun the shaft in his hands, tangling the tunic around the ax-heads and pulled, dragging Baraz to him.

What exciting story are you working on next?

The sequel to Magic Forgotten, titled Magic Forbidden. Dan and Thook are still on Earth abut now need to face a different kind of magic that should not be there.

When did you first consider yourself a writer?

I started writing in my teens. My first published piece was a school essay in 1969. I got serious about it in 1991 and have been working at it ever since.

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 do not write full time. My day job at the moment is as an insurance underwriter, reading medical reports all day. I try to plan things out so when I get home, I have dinner with my wife, then put in a few hours working on my next book before I go to bed and do it all over again. It’s scheduling basically, and works most of the time, but not always.

What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?

I like to put references to old science fiction and fantasy novels in my work. But unless you’ve read stuff from forty or fifty years ago, you probably won’t get all the jokes.

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

An astronaut. I wanted to go to the stars, but I flunked the physical so now I just write about the stars.

Anything additional you want to share with the readers?

Keep reading. There a lot of good books out there and more on the way.

Links:

Website | Running Wild Press | Facebook | Twitter | Amazon

Thank you for being a guest on my blog!
You’re welcome, and thank you for having me here.

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Interview with novelist Courtney Williamson Milford

Novelist Courtney Williamson Milford joins me today to chat about her new historical WWII fantasy, Graced 1943. The history is meant to be accurate, but the characters have special powers called “Graces.”

Bio:

Courtney Williamson Milford lives in Windermere, Florida with her husband and three children. She writes two series: The Grace Family Chronicles for adults, and Tales of Bark Story Land for children, and she currently has four free-standing books. She graduated from the University of Florida, and has owned and operated a wholesale automotive fleet leasing business called Courtney Leasing, Inc. since 1991.

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

Based out of WWII-era Miami, Graced 1943 begins the story of the Grace family members and their friends. Most of them are Graced in at least one way, meaning they have special abilities that help them meet challenges. While WWII figures into the multiple plotlines, the story is mostly about the characters. It is the first book in a series, and has a cliffhanger ending.

What inspired you to write this book?

Initially, I meant for this to be a children’s story featuring the young mother we meet in the first chapter, Annelisa, her twin boys, and their dog. After I got to know Annelisa, I realized her story, and those of her family members and friends, were for adults. I based the story in Miami because I like to write about my home state of Florida, and Miami was a prominent base for training and manufacturing during WWII, largely because of its location. I chose the 1940’s because it turned out that Annelisa’s husband, Humboldt, is an astrophysicist, and I knew he had to work on the Manhattan Project.

Excerpt from Graced 1943:

I chose this short passage because it demonstrates the characters using their Graces. Annelisa is a Locator, and can find people by listening for their heartbeats. Mia is a Navigator, meaning she never needs a map, and never gets lost. Humboldt is a Knower, and can Focus on any topic and, immediately, Know all there is to know about it. The story is meant to be like an old-fashioned radio soap opera. For example, you’ll see that Annelisa can’t remember giving birth to one of her children.

Back at the marina, Humboldt, Mia, and Annelisa piled into Aunt Sam’s old car. Annelisa opened her mouth to tell Humboldt that her aunt was gone, but then she stopped. She could tell him later, if he did not already Know. It was much more important for Annelisa to focus on her son’s and sister’s heartbeats.

“Can you hear them? Can you give me any direction at all?” This was from Mia, who was in the driver’s seat.

Annelisa nodded. “I can hear them, and I know they are together south of here. They are not moving.” She meant they were no longer traveling by car, not that they were not moving at all. Neither of the others asked for clarification. They both knew there was no question of the pair being dead, or Annelisa could not have heard their hearts beating.

“I know where they are,” Humboldt announced. Annelisa sighed with relief. Sometimes she got annoyed because her skill as a Locator was often overshadowed by her husband’s ability to pick up knowledge by Focusing on an issue or situation but, in this case, she just wanted to hold her little boy as quickly as possible.

“Tell me.” Mia swung left into light traffic.

“Big Cypress.”

“On the Indian reservation?“

“Just outside. Eleanor can’t get in. Irene used a charm that keeps her off the tribe’s property.” Humboldt glanced at his watch. “The cab driver must have hustled to get there so quickly.” He Knew Eleanor had probably Multiplied the distance the car traveled per wheel rotation, but he did not feel like explaining this to Mia. Although she seemed pleasant and helpful, he felt that she was hiding something important, and he did not fully trust her.

“She’s not meeting Irene there?” Annelisa narrowed her eyes. “Why would Irene want to keep Eleanor away?” Irene, Eleanor’s mother-in-law, was three-quarters Seminole Indian.

“Irene has Eleanor’s daughter.” Mia did not turn her head. She did not know how Annelisa would react to what she was going to hear, but Irene did not want to be distracted. Like any Navigator, Mia prided herself on being a safe driver.

Annelisa just stared ahead, pressing her lips together.

“Annelisa, you don’t remember Tatum?” This was from Humboldt. He had been deployed when Tatum was born, about a month before Annelisa gave birth. “You must have been awfully sick.”

“No, I do not remember any Tatum.” Annelisa was embarrassed that she, during her extended illness, had forgotten not only her own son, Michelangelo, but also Eleanor’s daughter, Tatum. It frightened her that she could not remember having given birth to a second baby. These feelings, and her concern about Xavier, combined, prompting her to lash out at Humboldt. “Why don’t you enlighten me, since you Know everything?”

Humboldt opened his mouth to respond, but Mia broke in. “Eleanor told me about this. Tatum disappeared from her crib at Gracestone, not long after Xavier was taken. Eleanor blames your father because he was so focused on protecting Michelangelo.”

Annelisa began to cry. Their father, Henri, was one of the most caring, responsible people that Annelisa could imagine. She was sure that whatever had happened to Tatum, it had not been because Henri had allowed his granddaughter to be neglected.

           

What exciting story are you working on next?

Aside from revising the third book in The Grace Family Chronicles, which is called The Train of Thought, I am finishing a stand-alone adult fiction novel called Shackledown. It tells the story of a 15-year-old girl who died in 1917, and haunts the third floor of her old home, a former citrus and cotton plantation known as “Shackledown.” I wrote it from the points of view of the ghost girl’s mother, and the woman who currently lives in the house, who has her own 15-year old daughter. The chapters rotate between the present and the early 1900’s.

When did you first consider yourself a writer?

I started writing in January of 2016 and considered myself a writer as soon as I had finished my first three books: Graced 1943, Fluffy and Dot (Book 1 in Tales of Bark Story Land), and Shell’s Amazing App, a middle grade novel.

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?

Technically, I run Courtney Leasing, Inc., a wholesale automotive leasing company that I sacrificed my 20’s, 30’s, and part of my 40’s to build, but now I don’t have many duties, although I go into the office daily. Usually, I spend a good four hours a day writing or working on writing-related tasks. I usually do about two hours of cardio, and use my laptop when I’m on the stationary bike (I read on the elliptical and the treadmill). I also try to wake up for a couple of hours at night when it’s peaceful to write, market my books, etc.

What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?

I don’t write straight fiction. I always have to include an element of fantasy, or the supernatural.

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

An “authoress” (I got that term from Jo March in Little Women).

Anything additional you want to share with the readers?

I want my books to be accessible to everyone, which is why I put them on Kindle Unlimited. I also send the e-books to the local library system. If anyone ever wants to read one of my books, I’ll send it to them.

Thanks so much for being here today, Courtney.

Interview with mystery author Alistair Cross

Hello Readers, my special guest today is author Alistair Cross. We’re chatting about his paranormal murder mystery, Sleep, Savannah, Sleep.

Bio:

Alistair Cross' debut novel, The Crimson Corset, a vampiric tale of terror and seduction, was an immediate bestseller earning praise from veteran vampire-lit author, Chelsea Quinn Yarbro, and New York Times bestseller, Jay Bonansinga, author of The Walking Dead series. In 2012, Alistair joined forces with international bestseller, Tamara Thorne, and as Thorne & Cross, they write - among other things - the successful Gothic series, The Ravencrest Saga. Their debut collaboration, The Cliffhouse Haunting, was a bestseller. They are currently at work on their next solo novels and a new collaborative project.

In 2014, Alistair and Tamara began the radio show, Thorne & Cross: Haunted Nights LIVE!, which has featured such guests as Charlaine Harris of the Southern Vampire Mysteries and basis of the HBO series True Blood, Jeff Lindsay, author of the Dexter novels, Jay Bonansinga of The Walking Dead series, Laurell K. Hamilton of the Anita Blake novels, Peter Atkins, screenwriter of HELLRAISER 2, 3, and 4, worldwide bestseller V.C. Andrews, and New York Times best sellers Preston & Child, Christopher Rice, and Christopher Moore.

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

My latest novel is a paranormal murder mystery called Sleep, Savannah, Sleep. It takes place in the spooky little fictional town of Shadow Springs, California, where my protagonist, recently widowed Jason Crandall, has recently moved with hopes of starting a new life for himself and his two children. No sooner does he begin meeting the townspeople than Savannah Sturgess, a beautiful young socialite, goes missing. Jason becomes entangled in the unsolved crime when he’s plagued by mysterious, terrifying visions and dreams that lead him (and the police) to Savannah’s murdered corpse. And when Jason falls under suspicion, he realizes the only way to clear his name is to uncover the identity of Savannah’s killer himself. But what he doesn’t know is that the truth is more terrifying than he - or anyone in Shadow Springs - could have ever imagined.

   

What inspired you to write this book?

I’d just finished my novel, The Angel Alejandro, and late one night, as I lay awake pondering the possibilities for the next story, I asked myself this question: What’s the absolute worst thing I could possibly do to my new protagonist … and from that seed, Sleep, Savannah, Sleep was born…

Excerpt from Sleep, Savannah, Sleep:

No longer tired, Jason slipped outside onto the veranda and sat on the porch swing. He sighed, taking in the stars, which were startlingly bright in comparison to L.A., and inhaled the night’s scents - honeysuckle, roses, and night-blooming jasmine. Those smells put him at ease and for the first time since Julia’s death, he felt like maybe he and the kids would be okay, after all. Maybe.

A light caught his attention at the house next door - not at Dottie’s, but at Tabitha Cooper’s. It seemed strange that a blind woman would keep a light on, but then again, perhaps she did it to keep prowlers away. Or maybe Coop’s visiting.

Jason stood and walked toward the rose-choked split-rail fence and stared. So far, he’d seen no sign of Coop’s ailing grandmother and he was curious about her. In the window, through gauzy white curtains, he could see her hazy form, rocking back in forth in the chair that Dottie said she never left. As he stared, the rocking slowed, then stopped. She turned her head to face him.

Jason’s mouth went instantly dry. He froze, unnerved, thinking he should duck and run, but he couldn’t make his feet move. Her hand, bent and clawed with age, reached out and pulled the curtain aside.

Jason’s breath snagged when he saw her clearly. She seemed to be without sex - no breasts, no swell of the hips - just a skeleton covered by thinly-stretched ashen skin, matted white hair standing on end, a gaunt wasted face, and sunken fog-white eyes that - though obviously blind - stared right at him. They were the eyes of a dead person.

She brought both hands to the glass, where her fingers ticked like spider’s legs, and her mouth - a toothless, lipless maw - opened and closed, opened and closed. She wasn’t speaking, he realized, just gumming the air mindlessly. There was something sinister about it - something lunatic.

Trying to convince himself she couldn’t see him, Jason backed away, nearly tripping on a tangle of vines as he hurried back inside, locking the door behind him.

From the safety of the house, he felt like a fool. First, he’d let Travis Delgado push him around and now he was running from a harmless, blind old woman. He smiled at the thought, but the smile felt cold. There really was something spooky about Tabitha Cooper; it was as if she’d been looking right at him. Or rather, right through him. He shivered, recalling Dottie’s words for the second time that day: ‘The children in town call her a witch, and I don’t blame them one bit.’

Jason didn’t blame them, either.

What exciting story are you working on next?

My collaborator, Tamara Thorne, and I are working on a vampire novel called Darling Girls, which is a sequel to her novel Candle Bay, as well as a continuation of my novel, The Crimson Corset. Darling Girls takes our vampires up to the mysterious little town of Eternity, California, where a massive vampire celebration called Biting Man is taking place. In Darling Girls, we learn about the ties between Tamara’s vampiric family and mine. And when a self-deluded young vampire hunter shows up, the, uh, ahem, stakes are raised.

When did you first consider yourself a writer?

When my assigned Halloween story so offended my third-grade teacher that she refused to continue reading it aloud. I knew then and there it was my mission in life to either scare people or piss them off. And with horror-writing, I get to do both!

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 write full-time, eight to ten hours a day, five - and often - six days a week. As writers, we are no longer just storytellers. We’re also marketers, publicists, and business managers … so yeah, it’s a full-time gig and then some.

What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?

I do a considerable portion of my writing with my cat, Pawpurrazzi, perched on my shoulder like a great black bird of prey … but one that purrs. And has whiskers.   

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

Until writing came along - and sometimes even now - I’m torn between wanting to be a fireman and a mermaid.

Anything additional you want to share with the readers?

Reading is sexy. Rock on.

Thanks for being here today!

Interview with romance author Claire Marti

Romance author Claire Marti joins me today and we’re chatting about her new contemporary romance, At Last in Laguna.

During her virtual book tour, Claire will be awarding a $25 Amazon or Barnes and Noble (winner’s choice) gift card to a luck randomly drawn winner. To be entered for a chance to win, use the form below. To increase your chances of winning, feel free to visit her other tour stops and enter there, too.

Bio:

Claire Marti started writing stories as soon as she was old enough to pick up pencil and paper. After graduating from the University of Virginia with a BA in English Literature, Claire was sidetracked by other careers, including practicing law, selling software for legal publishers, and managing a non-profit animal rescue for a Hollywood actress.

Finally, Claire followed her heart and now focuses on two of her true passions: writing romance and teaching yoga. At Last in Laguna is the second book in her Finding Forever in Laguna series from The Wild Rose Press.

Welcome, Claire. Please share a little bit about your current release.

Here’s the blurb:

Alyssa Morgan has secretly been in love with her older brother Nick’s best friend, Brandt Dempsey, since she was an awkward, lonely teenager. When she catches the bouquet at Nick’s wedding, she throws caution to the wind and propositions Brandt to a two-week fling. He’s tried to ignore how Alyssa has blossomed into a strong, talented, gorgeous woman because as his best friend’s baby sister, she’s off limits.

After they share a mind-blowing kiss, Brandt struggles to fight their undeniable chemistry. His tragic childhood scarred him, but he pushes it deep inside, only allowing the world to see a wealthy, carefree entrepreneur. Forced to work together on Brandt’s latest charitable venture, Brandt and Alyssa’s passion cannot be denied. Alyssa knows he’s the one. Can she convince him they belong together?

What inspired you to write this book?

I wanted to write about a hero who rose above a tragic childhood and becomes a success despite it all. He gives back by building Tearmann House, a center for abused children and women. He’s scarred inside, despite appearing like another handsome successful guy on the outside. Alyssa has her own demons to contend with too. Throwing them together in the brother’s best friend trope adds an element of lightness, fun, and forbidden romance.


Excerpt from At Last in Laguna:

What was his deal this morning?

She’d give him the cold shoulder if it killed her.

And it just might.

He’d rejected her, so why was he opening doors, hovering, and acting like a pest? Practically breathing down her neck. She could swear he’d sniffed her. Sniffed her. He couldn’t conceal his awareness. If he were so attracted to her, he would’ve agreed to her proposition, right? Since he’d shot her down in flames, he could at least have the decency to ignore her today. Rude, infuriating man.

Inhaling a deep cleansing breath, she forced herself to concentrate on the center. Sunlight streamed through the abundance of windows and along with the high ceilings imparted a feeling of freedom and space, perfect for the planned occupants. Because they’d decided to wait to obtain her input for the more specific room layout, the building’s interior remained a shell. She’d add to her brother’s amazing design and ensure Tearmann House’s beauty and serenity.

Serenity. What a concept. Ha.

What exciting story are you working on next?
I just submitted the manuscript for the third book in the Finding Forever in Laguna series to my editor. I’ll be working on edits for the next few months. I’ve got a new contemporary series with three sisters set in Rancho Santa Fe, California.

When did you first consider yourself a writer?

I started writing stories when I was seven years old. I’d even create covers and turn them into actual books for my family and friends to enjoy. Does that count? My first published magazine article was in 1997 for Delicious magazine about health supplements. I signed my first contract in March 2016 for the Finding Forever in Laguna series.

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 was a yoga teacher who wrote and I’m transitioning into a writer who also teaches yoga. I teach a few public yoga classes, train a few private clients in their homes, and write for YogaDownload.com, an online yoga website for whom I also teach classes. Each day is different, but I have a dedicated writing space in my home office. I block out my writing time each day around the yoga.

What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?

My cats assist me when I write. Lola either drapes herself over the top back of my chair or wedges herself next to me. Beau plops himself wherever he can so he can keep an eye on the action.

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

An actress, a writer, a dancer, an international explorer, Dr. Doolittle #2. Not necessarily in that order.

Anything additional you want to share with the readers?

I hope my stories will transport you away from your daily life for a few hours and leave you with a smile on your face.

Links:

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Amazon | Wild Rose Press | Barnes and Noble | iBooks

Buy links:
Amazon | The Wild Rose Press | Barnes and Noble | Kobo | iBooks

Thank you for being a guest on my blog!
Thank you for having me!

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