Here we are at the ‘Normal’ and ‘Not so Normal’ Question Spot.
 

‘Normal’ Question Spot

1. What made you decide to share with us your talent and experience in your new HOW TO WRITE A MYSTERY series?

Near the end of 2016, a friend and fellow writer, who was on the advisory board for Central Carolina Community College’s Creative Writing Program suggested they add a workshop on writing a murder mystery, and my name came up. They asked if I’d be interested and I said, “Yes.”

I pulled material from books on mystery writing, but I soon found myself putting more of my own ideas into the lesson plan. Eventually, most of the information was my own.  I did away with the textbooks and did my own thing.

The course got lots of kudos from students. This is great stuff. Wow, I never thought of that.  When the student evaluations came in, the coordinator of the program said my appraisals were incredible. So, we’re going to do it again next Spring.

I pivoted off my original 100-slides PowerPoint presentation, added more material, and developed the book series: Writing the Killer Mystery.
 
2. How many volumes are there in the HOW TO WRITE A MYSTERY series? What do they each involve?

After reviewing other books in the field with similar themes, I decided to do five volumes, each with a targeted aspect of writing a murder mystery. My goal for the series is to take someone from idea to publication, covering everything in between. Following is an outline of the books.
 
Writing the Killer Mystery Series

1. Great Beginnings (Vol. 1, released APR 2018)—Mystery Writers and Their Sleuths, Understanding the Mystery, Types of Mystery, Getting Ideas, and Planning the Mystery, using the “Five Element Mystery Story Model.”
2. Captivating Characters (Vol. 2, released MAY 2018)—the Sleuth, the Victim, the Killer, the Suspects, Special Characters, and the Rest of the Cast with focus on “Character Lists.”
3. Plotting the Murder (Vol. 3, JUL 2018)—the Plot, the Opening, the Middle Game, the Ending, and Scenes, concluding with “Event-driven Plots.”
4. Places, Clues, and Guilt (Vol. 4, OCT 2018)—the Setting, Means, Motive, Opportunity, Clues, Red Herrings, Misdirection, History, and Backstory.
5. Getting it Right, Getting Paid (Vol. 5, JAN 2019)—Writing Advice, Revision, Publishing, and Promotion.

 
3. Do you have other HOW TO WRITE books planned for the future?

Doing a broad series on mystery writing gave me so many ideas.  One of my students pointed out that my theory of “character lists” from Captivating Characters which is geared for mystery stories, can be applied to other fiction. That got me thinking of doing a book on creating characters that can be used in many different story settings.  The beauty of my method using “character lists” is to rapidly develop complex characters.

Here are some other ideas for future books.

• Criminal Profiling for Mystery Writers
• Using Evidence Boards for Plotting a Mystery.
• The Last Word on Dialog.

 
4. Do you have more fiction planned for us that we can look forward to?

I have two irons in the fiction fire.  The first is the third book in the Cavendish Brown Paranormal Mystery series.  The Thief’s Return takes Cavendish, Alex, and Jane on a cold case crime from twenty years earlier, otherwise known as the Marlboro Diamond Heist.  A witch was involved in the theft, and a robber died leaving a ghost behind.

The other book is a blend of fantasy and paranormal. P. I. Branch Blake discovers his client, Lady Selena, a vampire, was murdered.  The police, which is run by werewolves, think he did it. So, he must find the killer while on the lam n a world of trolls, ghosts, witches, and assorted humans.
 
 
‘Not so Normal’ Question Spot

1. You have a pet dragon. What does he/she look like? Do you use a dragon harness or ride bareback?

Not sure if the term pet is appropriate but let me explain. As a young man, I headed out to the Bearraidhean cliffs where the dragons fly.  Around dusk was the best time because the air currents are minimal, and the dragons come in low.  This next part is tricky.  But if you run like crazy and time your jump as a dragon swoops past, landing on one is guaranteed. The hard part is staying on.  Scales are slippery and getting a foothold or grabbing something difficult. Luckily, I caught a fin and hung on for dear life. 

Now, if you can whisper your name in a dragon’s ear, he will be yours for life.  I managed to do it although finding the dragon’s ear was not easy, especially when diving toward earth at death speeds.  Now me and Twigs (I named him that because he likes to fetch sticks and twigs and tree trunks) are best buds.

Bareback or saddled?  Bareback, of course. Would not have it any other way.
 
2. Let’s say you’re a Superhero. What is your superpower?

Freeze time. That would be my superpower. Imagine the possibilities! Stop old ladies from accidentally stepping off curbs and into traffic. Grab a baby about to fall from a 10th-floor balcony. Get people out of the way when a bad guy shoots a gun.  And the benefits! Stop a movie for a potty break after drinking one of those humongous Cokes from the concession stand.  Catch a nap at work while everyone else stands around like statues. Stop time in a restaurant and snack off food from people’s plates.

3. Would you rather have the ability to read minds or see into the future?

Definitely, it would be looking into the future. If what people say is the tip of the what-they think-iceberg, I don’t want to know.  But knowing what happens tomorrow would be great.  And winning a Power Ball lottery would be first on my to-do list.

4. Would you rather encounter an alien or a ghost?

Ghost.  I catch all those ghost hunter shows.  Would love to spend a night in a haunted house.  Woooooo! Ectoplasm. Cold spots.  Creepy voices. Stuff moves when not looking. Things go bump in the dark.  I’m in. Where do I go to sign up?
 
 


Wow! Awesome answers. And thanks for the tip on catching a dragon. If I ever encounter one, I’ll know just what to do. 😊

Here’s the blurb!

The English ancestral manor of Cherrywood Hall is ready to compete for selection in an upcoming British TV period drama series: the grounds are manicured, the mansion is polished, and the servants are poised. American heiress Gemma Lancaster Phillips has crossed the pond to help her cousin defeat the three other stately homes vying for the prize.

What Gemma doesn’t realize is that this competition is life or death, and someone is taking that challenge literally. The occupants of one home are killed in an automobile accident, and murder becomes a frequent occurrence at the other locations. Who is behind the mayhem? Selection would be a major coup for both the estate and the community. At first the other contestants seem to be likely suspects, but no one is quite certain as the tragedies continue. Could it even be Emma’s beloved cousin Evan, the surviving heir to the Lancaster fortune, or Kyle, his best friend and estate manager? With the Royal family in attendance at each event, the puzzle becomes a crucial one for Scotland Yard, and they enlist Gemma’s help to solve the mystery.

When the competition’s winner is announced on New Year’s Eve, will Gemma’s future be forever tied to her ancestral past?

Here’s the blurb!

American heiress Gemma Lancaster Phillips, PhD, can tell you that owning and running a large estate is much less glamorous than it sounds. Her ancestral home of Cherrywood Hall is stunning, but Gemma knows how much hard work her cousin, Lord Evan Lancaster, and his estate manager, Kyle Williams, put into maintaining the sprawling location.

Castlewood Manor, on the other hand, is all the glamour with none of the grit. The period drama television series is set to film in Cherrywood Hall and bring millions of pounds into the local community. The only problem is that someone wants to see the production shut down permanently and is willing to kill for it! Gemma isn’t about to let a murderer run rampant through the halls of her family’s estate. When Scotland Yard’s own Chief Inspector Marquot solicits her advice, she once again enlists the help of Evan and Kyle to catch the culprit.

Egotistical actors, a royal it-girl, rival estate owners, and even a family ghost spring up to help or hinder Gemma on her quest for the truth. Will it be enough to show Gemma just what kind of evil has been brought to Cherrywood Hall?

Here we are at the ‘Normal’ and ‘Not so normal’ Question Spots.

‘Normal’ Question Spot.

1. What genre do you write in?

My genre is cozy mystery and suspense---British theme with an American twist (Kind of on trend now with the upcoming #RoyalWedding. I am a royal loving, American Anglophile, despite being a card-carrying, proud member of the D.A.R.)

2. What do you love about it?

There’s something about the quaint British countryside and a good old-fashioned murder mystery---who knew that the combination of these two seemingly opposites would attract? I love how an unassuming British setting steeped in tradition and manners, can house so many ne’er-do-wells performing dastardly deeds. I love it when the story instantly transports me to the quaint villages or cold, clammy castle rooms, letting me watch as the mysteries unfold, fortified with the never-ending cups of hot tea, or sips of sherry. I feel at home in these type stories and appreciate the ‘cozy’ nature of the crimes---we can see all the real-life guts and gore we want on any given day. I prefer the ‘cozy’ crime scene---bad things happen without the grizzly details.

3. Do you have a book inspiration story to share with us?

I do. My writing career started with the end of my beloved Downton Abbey. For six seasons, every Sunday night I’d be glued to the television. In addition to the regular series, I watched the Manners of Downton, the Weddings of Downton, and the real-life specials highlighting the owners (Lord and Lady Carnarvon) of Highclere Castle, that served as the set location for Downton Abbey, and their newfound fame. When the end of season six came, I was devastated---what would I do now? Recently retired, I had toyed with the idea of writing for some time, the end of Downton triggered my start engine. I homed in on the real-life owners of Highclere and how Downton had changed their lives. Would you let a TV period drama series be filmed on your estate? I kept toying with this question, and soon the subject of my cozy book series was born---the filming of fictional television series Castlewood Manor on the estate of Cherrywood Hall, with fun characters (heiresses, aristocrats, royals, actors, meddling mothers, an ancestral ghost, villagers) mysteries and mayhem, and a little romance thrown in.

4. What are you working on now?

I have a few WIPs. I am learning the art of tweeting, Instagram-ing and facebook-ing---I’m a newbie to social media platforms despite having been in software sales for 20+ years (Note: do not follow my learning path on this one!). I’ve also just started my blog, which is very exciting---it gives me a weekly channel to air my opinions on a number of topics, some writing oriented, and some that come from who knows where---I try and keep things up-beat and fun. I am most excited on beginning the third book of my series. My American heiress Gemma Lancaster Phillips and her crew are leaving the hallowed halls of Cherrywood Hall and coming to America for some Castlewood Manor premiers and award events. Expect lots of glitz and glamor, sprinkled with cozy mur-dahs and mayhem as they travel across the U.S. Will love continue to bloom between Gemma and Cherrywood Hall estate manager Kyle Williams once they cross the pond? Stay tuned…

5. You went snorkeling between the tectonic plates at the Silfra Fissure. What was that awesome adventure like?  

My husband Bruce and I are blessed to live in southern CA, where it is perpetually sunny and in the 70s. I crave seasonal changes and love cold weather (really cold). We tend to travel in January and February so that I get a chance to wear my beloved boots. This year I turned 60 in January, and we went to Iceland. I had seen a picture on Pinterest of a scuba suited brave heart, hands out reached, touching the sides of the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates in clear blue water. I was captivated, and after much begging and researching, my husband and I found ourselves suiting up in the snow (long johns, dry suit, wet suit) and soon entering the crystal-clear labyrinth waters of the Silfra Fissure. It was 22 degrees F air temp, and 35 degrees F water temp, and one of the most awesome things I’ve ever done. The Silfra Fissure is listed in the top 10 areas of the world for snorkeling (and the only place you can snorkel between 2 tectonic plates), the crystal-clear fissure water travels for 35 years from a melting glacier that flows into the fissure.  Bucket list check and a great cold facial!

‘Not so Normal’ Question Spot

1. If you could invite any 5 people (i.e. cartoon character; famous person; rock band; poet; artist; living or dead) for a meal together, who would they be?

I would love to invite Agatha Christie, Coco Chanel, Queen Elizabeth II, Nigella Lawson and Marie Curie to a cooking class/dinner. Nigella would guide our culinary adventure with her sultry voice; Agatha would keep us in stitches with the stories behind the stories,(and some inside scoop on Hercule); Coco would tell us all the latest trends of fashion and style (and what she thinks of the latest crop of children of celebrities models); QE II would let down her crown and tell us all about the things she’s seen as the world’s longest living monarch (with LOTS of eye rolls); Marie would give us the scoop on being a genius female scientist in a man’s world (things haven’t changed that much unfortunately). I would sit and stare, mouth open, hoping not to drool, and try to absorb all their collective wisdom. P.S. If Nigella was not available, I would try and enlist Nina Romano or BraveHeartBraveSoul from the Twitterverse---these writers can cook! You should see some of the recipes and dishes they post, yum---either of them would be a great addition to my fictional cooking class/dinner party I’m sure!

2. If you were an ‘American Almost-Royal’, what would your title be?

Just as Princess Diana wanted to be the Queen of People’s Hearts, I’d like to be the American Almost-Royal Queen of Cozy Mystery Reader’s Minds (ok, I’d settle for Almost-Royal Marchioness if I can’t be queen, I know there are many talented authors out there…)

3. What does your castle look like?

My fictional Cherrywood Hall is a grand red brick and limestone manor house with four turrets on each corner, sitting on the cliffs overlooking the North Sea. There are 151 rooms in Cherrywood Hall and counting---one never knows when a mysterious hidden room will show up. Many of the rooms are still decorated in shades of blue, ancestral Aunt Pippa’s (and now family ghost) favorite color. One of the favorite gathering spots for my characters is the conservatory, a large room that spans the length of the castle, with marble floors, exotic plants and a 30-foot waterfall that spills into a reflecting pool. Hidden behind the falls is a boulder door, which opens to an iridescent blue tiled swimming pool---a magical place to swim under the stars or find floating bodies…

4. You have a mystery to solve. Picking characters from all the mysteries you’ve ever read or watched who are the people on your team?

I would pick Agatha Christie’s Miss Marple, whose woolly-headed insights would surely help solve any mystery; M.C. Beaton’s Agatha Raisin, her head strong approach has no fear (and I have a soft spot for menopausal women); Kerry Greenwood’s Phryne Fisher, because I want to borrow her clothes as she leads our pack of mystery solvers with her golden gun; Rhys Bowen’s Lady Georgiana Rannoch/aka Georgie, her kindness and manners should be a lesson for us all---almost royally speaking; and finally, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes, brilliant, a bit arrogant (I would love to see him smile in the company of these women who would give him a run for his money (actually, I think Miss Marple would de-throne him 😊)

Love your answers! And thank you so much for sharing your snorkeling adventure with us. Awesome pics!
 

YOU CAN REACH VERONICA AT:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/VClinebarton  @VClinebarton
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/myamericanalmostroyalcousinseries/ 
Blog: https://myamericanalmostroyalcousinseries.com 
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/veronicaclinebarton/ 
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/17736857.Veronica_Cline_Barton 
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/-/e/B079XYHYPF 
 
 
LET'S GENERATE A BUZZ! Authors, artists and poets if you would like to be a BUZZ GUEST on ‘FAE AND WITCHES AND GHOSTS—OH MY!’ please DM me on Twitter https://twitter.com/kay_latour or on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/kaylatour/
 
 
#Cozymystery #royals #Americanheiress #ancestralestates #murder #suspense #British #amreading #books #bookworm #novels #novel #series #bookseries #AmWriting

Here’s the BLURB!

DEA agent Sawyer Hayes came to California in search of a drug cartel leader who slipped through his fingers in El Paso. The link to finding him is Kate Munroe, a nanny for one of his henchmen. The problem? He didn’t expect to be so drawn to a possible suspect. How is he supposed to do his job when his growing feelings for her are clouding his judgment?
 
Interior designer Kate Munroe’s life is a train wreck. Her parents’ deaths left her with their mounds of debt, she can’t get a job designing even a cubicle, and she’s bunking in her best friend’s spare bedroom. To make ends meet, she’s a nanny to a lonely little boy whose rich father works all the time. Romance is not on her radar. But her hot new neighbor could change her mind, with his broad shoulders and Southern charm. Too bad his secrets could destroy her.

Cathy has taken the time to answer some ‘normal’ and ‘not so normal’ questions for us today.

 
‘Normal’ Question Spot

1. What is the name of your new book?  

Undercover with the Nanny

2. What is it about?  

I think the blurb will explain it best: “DEA agent Sawyer Hayes never planned on being so drawn to a possible suspect. How is he supposed to do his job when his growing feelings for her are clouding his judgment?”

Romance is not on interior designer and nanny Kate Munroe’s radar. But her hot new neighbor could change her mind, with his broad shoulders and Southern charm. Too bad his secrets could destroy her.

3. Do you have an inspiration story to share with us?  

A senior editor at Entangled came up with the book idea of a cop falling for a nanny, and then I took the plot and tweaked it a bit. I imagined the ending to the book first, and then worked backward, believe it or not. I wanted a movie-type ending, and my older son gave me the logistics for it. When my editor was going through the manuscript, she actually commented “Nice!” in the margin. I’m pretty proud of it, but you’ll have to purchase the book to find out.

4. Is this a series? Are there more books we can look forward to for these characters?  

As of now, this is a standalone romantic suspense. It does have an open ending, which will allow me to add a sequel if I come up with one later.
 
 
‘Not so Normal’ Question Spot

1. You have an imaginary friend only you can see. What does he/she look like?  

That’s a hard question. I like to deal in reality, so this is tough. I think I would like someone like Nora Roberts. A bit older than me, a mega star, who could help steer me in my writing career.

2. If you had wings what would they look like? Fairy or Angel? What color and size?  

Fairy wings. I don’t know if I deserve angel wings yet, haha. I would like iridescent ones, because you can never have too much bling! Medium sized. Not sweeping, and not like Tinker Bell’s, either.

3. Would you rather encounter an alien or a ghost?  

A ghost. Aliens give me the creeps, while I imagine ghosts were once real people. Plus, if they become visible, they want you to help them go where they need to. I’m all for helping them leave this realm! 

4. You have a mystery to solve. What magical creatures or persons are on your team?   

Uh-oh. I’m going to fail this. The magical creatures I think of are like, Disney characters: Tinker Bell, a flying carpet, the Cloak of Invisibility from Harry Potter, and Thor, because, really…he’s just gorgeous to look at! He doesn’t have to do anything but flex his muscles.
 
 

Wow! Great answers! I think Thor would be a definite asset on any mission.

 

Here we are at the ‘normal’ and ‘not so normal’ question spot.
 

‘Normal’ Question Spot

1. What genre do you write in?

First of all, thank you Kay, for inviting me to be featured as a Buzz Guest on your Fae and Ghosts and Witches- Oh My site. It’s always fun to read the authors you spotlight.

The Tales of the Vampire Hadley Price novels are about Vampires, particularly Hadley Price, her Vampire lover Nathan Hughes and their ward, the young Vampire Svetlana Magnovska. So, horror is the obvious genre. But the action takes place two hundred years in the future on a planet that is not Earth. So, there’s Sci-fi in there too. Hadley, Nathan and Svetlana are a family unit. Hadley’s adventures always include them. So, there’s a running theme of family. But these are not Disney characters. It’s nothing in the way of Leave it to Beaver or The Brady Bunch. They are Vampires. Sex and violence and blood drinking are a way of life for them. But there’s also another genre in my books- humor. I’ve always enjoy Buffy the Vampire Slayer. It had a really good mix of true horror, true drama and humor. Yes. Humor. Send in the clowns. I guess the genre of my books would most accurately be called fantasy. It’s sort of an umbrella term to gather all those genres together, but not be limited by any one of them.

2. What do you love about it?

The cool thing about Fantasy as an umbrella term is that I get to mix it up. In my books, there is a character named Betty. I won’t give any spoilers as to who or what Betty is. I invite readers to find that out for themselves. Betty is a lot of fun to write because she is, in part, a mystical character. But her transcendent nature is totally based on technology. High-tech? Magic? Yes. Betty is both. That, and she’s tight buds with the Vampire Hadley Price, who is a biological life form- but not Human.

Are there any characters in my books who are just Human? Yes. A few.

3. What are you working on right now?

Hadley has me doing a juggling act of several things right now. Her newest book, Torch, was released earlier this year. (Available as a paper book or eBook. Find it at your favorite on-line book retailer.) So, there’s on-going promotion for that- including some personal appearance book signings. (Check my Facebook page for updates on that.)

I’ve also recently finished the first draft of the next book in the series and sent that off to my Editor.

Now that I’m between the writing of novel-length books, I’ve given myself a little breather to indulge something I’ve only been thinking about- writing Hadley Price short stories. I’ve opened a Mixcloud account to release those as a free-listen narrated audio. After the world-building (worlds actually, with an “s”) and character development complexity of novel writing, it’s an enjoyable challenge to write simple, short, stories about Hadley. How do I jam the vast worlds of Hadley Price into the more concise and quick to-the-point format of a short story? As I’ve found out, I don’t. The simplicity of short stories takes some getting used to after writing novels. But it’s fun to challenge myself in this different kind of writing. I highly recommend that any writer experiment with different kinds of writing, other than what they normally write. I found myself getting a little cocky because novel writing was becoming less difficult. When that happens, it’s time to take a dose of humility by trying a kind of writing that isn’t easy.

Another thing that I started earlier this year after thinking about it for a while, is Podcasting. The Grace and the Author Podcast takes a humorous look behind the scenes at all the things that go into writing, editing, publishing, and promoting the Tales of the Vampire Hadley Price book series. I’m not an author, but I play one in a Podcast. (No. Wait a minute. I am an author.) My gal pal Elizabeth “Grace” DeCourcey and I have a lot of fun doing it and hope listeners have fun listening to it. It kind of comes off like Click and a Clack. With Vampires.

Last year Hadley was a guess character in three episodes of the popular online audio drama, The Byron Chronicles. I and series producer, Eric Busby, co-wrote the scripts for those three episodes. I mention that because Hadley will, once again, be a guess character in that audio series in 2017. But this time there’s a difference. Eric wrote the script for that, soon-to-be released two-part episode. Just Eric. It’s the first time Hadley will be in a story I had no part in writing. Eric did contact me to get my official okeydokey, so this all on the up and up. I gave him my consent to do that without me. But I do have to say that I’m a bit of a Nervous Nelly on this. I have heard the first part, prior it’s release to the public and Eric did a good job writing Hadley. But man, it’s just kind of freaky to have Hadley show up somewhere when I’m not the one who put her there.
 
4.  Do you have a book inspiration story to share with us?

Inspiration is an interesting topic. As writers, we know when it’s happening. And we know when it’s not. Writer’s block is a scary thing. Even when one has experience with it and knows that all blocks do, at some point, end, it’s just not fun. The other side, however, is a roller coaster ride, a storm of ideas that typing fingers are challenged to keep up.

I often wonder if it’s possible to make that happen. Not likely. You just have to ride the wave when it does and wait it out when it doesn’t.

In a less manic sense, people’ll ask me something like: why is Hadley a beautiful, small, petite woman? They’ll ask me: why does Svetlana speaks with a Russian accent? Why did I make them that way? Why are other characters and situations in my books the way they are? Where do you get your ideas? People who ask me stuff like that really want to understand the dynamics of inspiration. What goes on in my noggin that I write this stuff? What external stimulus makes that happen? The answer is- I don’t know how that happens. I have no idea why Svetlana speaks with charming Russian accent. I have no idea why Hadley’s a small woman. I have no idea why the Vampire Nathan Hughes likes chocolate. The ideas just kind of go through me and out to the type written words. It’s kind of like the ideas are something outside of me and my job is to just write it all down. And I have absolutely no idea how that all works. But I do find it a humbling privilege that it happens with me.
I’ve kind of did a walk around the original question relating to books. Is that meant in terms of a book that inspired me? Or something that inspired me to write in my own books? In either case, inspiration is at work. Inspiration. Strange. Damn Mysterious.

This is one of the Normal Questions and I kind of went off on a Not-So-Normal direction answering it. It’s the perfect seg to go to the Not-So-Normal Questions.
 

‘Not so Normal’ Questions

1. If you could invite any 5 people (i.e. cartoon character; famous person; rock band; poet; artist; living or dead) for a meal together, who would they be?

I could quite easily see myself having supper with Alice Cooper, John Carpenter, Bill Compton, Snake Plissken and Henry Rollins. All weapons must be checked at the door.

In the dining room across the hall, there’d be Jamie Lee Curtis, Daenerys Targaryen, Buffy Somers, Katniss Everdeen and my little Vampire Woman, Hadley Price.

This is a Not-So-Normal question so I gave a not-so-normal answer. This gets back to that whole umbrella Fantasy genre thing. In my dinning fantasy, I can hang out with the dudes or/and be surrounded by interesting women. That, and Hadley would insist on being present to make sure I behave myself around Jamie Lee Curtis.

2. You’re a newly sired vampire. Where do you sleep? What do you hunt and with who?

Vampires do not sleep in caskets. And they do not sleep just in the daytime. Hadley and all the Vampires she knows sleep in beds in sun-proof rooms and that could be at any time, day or night. When a Human becomes a Vampire, they don’t die and get buried. They just change to another race. No casket necessary. Besides, Hadley and Nathan might find it enjoyably kinky to get busy in a casket, but a bed is a nicer piece of furniture and significantly more comfortable when they’re not doing that.

3. Your sire has sent you on a quest to bring back one of his flock. What magical creatures or persons do you bring with you to accomplish that task?

Any Vampire Progenitor with a Progeny who bails on them is clearly negligent in their mentor role. If they can’t handle a Young Vampire they have no business Making that Vampire. Bringing a Human over to the Vampire side is a huge responsibility. The decision to do that is not arbitrary nor taken lightly. The needs of the Young Vampire to be tutored in the correct manner outweigh the concerns of an elder Vampire’s sloppy behavior and otherwise immature conduct. Vampires have zero tolerance for deadbeat dads/moms. They can’t have a Young Vampire mess-up and tip off the Humans that Vampires are real. Vampires, as well as other magical persons, keep their secrets from the mortals by self-policing not just the Young but also the Makers.

4. A wicked old witch has turned you into a frog.  What are you going to do with your days?

If I were to spend the rest of my life as a frog, I’d call HP and see if I could order a special, custom-made keyboard for my desk computer to accommodate my froggy hands. Hadley wouldn’t accept being a frog as an excuse to stop writing her stories. And she would turn me down flat at any suggestion of prince-turning kisses. I write her stories and I’ll just be a frog doing it. She’s got a lot of tales to tell me and she says that she’s only getting started with that. Readers can look forward to the continuing Tales of the Vampire Hadley Price.
Rib-it! Rib-it!

 


YOU CAN FIND WARREN AT:
Blog -> https://hadleyprice.com/
Facebook Personal -> https://www.facebook.com/people/Warren-Onufer/100007806495916
Facebook Author Page -> https://www.facebook.com/Tales-of-the-Vampire-Hadley-Price-608769419246063/
Mixcloud -> https://www.mixcloud.com/warren-onufer/
Grace and the Author Podcast -> http://graceandtheauthor.podbean.com/
Twitter ->  https://twitter.com/WJOnufer   @WJOnufer 
 
 
LET'S GENERATE A BUZZ! Authors, artists, and poets if you would like to be a BUZZ GUEST on ‘FAE AND WITCHES AND GHOSTS—OH MY!’ please DM me on Twitter https://twitter.com/kay_latour or on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/kaylatour/
 
 
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I’m changing things up a bit today and sharing with you my urban fantasy book WITCH ON PAROLE. It’s the first in a series. It’s a coming-of-age tale with magic, blackmail, parkour, and a wishing fish!

Then in a bold move I will NOT answer the ‘normal’ questions. No. Instead I will jump right to the ‘Not So Normal’ Question Spot. And to shake things up even more, I invite YOU to join in the fun and give me YOUR ‘Not So Normal’ answers in the comment area.


Here’s the book cover!

To stay out of jail, a WITCH ON PAROLE must uphold her parole agreement which specifically forbids the use of dark magic. But her corrupt parole officer has nefarious plans for her. Starting with a cursed gemstone. 

Here’s the BLURB!

All this witch ever wanted was to fit in, be one of the respected professional thieves and never practice magic.  But these dreams crashed and cremated when she was captured on her first thieving mission.  Incarcerated for her crime and paroled two months later, Bryn Brinkman snatches at the chance of a new life.  But her corrupt Parole Officer won’t let her.  He wants a personal spell caster.  The problem? She fears high level magic for a very good reason.  When she was ten her mother used a Level Four spell and disappeared right in front of her.  His attitude?  Too bad.  He’s wedged her between a rock and a jail cell.  If she tells on him no one will believe her.  He’s a respected Supernatural Corrections Officer and she’s just a WITCH ON PAROLE.   

‘Not So Normal’ Question Spot
Let’s have some fun. Feel free to add your answers in the comment section.


1. If you could invite any 5 people (i.e. cartoon character; famous person; rock band; poet; artist; living or dead) for a meal together, who would they be?   

I would invite the Winchester Brothers (Jared Padalecki & Jensen Ackles) and Cas (Misha Collins). I count them as one because they are always together. And just because 😊

Next would be Buffy the Vampire Slayer (Sarah Michelle Gellar) because she is one rad kick-ass woman and I’m sure she and the Supernatural crew would have lots to talk about.

John Barrowman would also be on the guest list and I would ask him to wear his Captain Jack Harkness great coat from his Torchwood days.

And because I consider myself a BROWNCOAT, Nathan Fillion must be invited. If he wore his Captain Mal ensemble I would be thrilled.

Wonder Woman as a cartoon or in the flesh as Lynda Carter would be an awesome addition to the table.

Just for fun, here’s a pic of my Funko Wonder Woman surrounded by my crystals and sage.

And finally, Scooby Doo cos hey! A talking dog who solves mysteries. How cool is that?

If Scooby and the gang were busy then I would hire a shifter for tracking and defence; a witch for healing and spells; and a ghost to eavesdrop on my suspects.

3. If you had wings what would they look like?  Fairy or Angel?  What color and size? 

My wings would be made of black feathers and strong enough to take me everywhere. When I retracted them they would disappear until I needed to stretch them out for another flight.

4. You’re dressed to attend a Cosplay event.  What are you wearing? 

Since I’m a BROWNCOAT I’d probably go as crewman/mechanic Kaylee Frye from Firefly.

5. A wicked old witch has turned you into a frog. What are you going to do with your days?

I would hop on over to the nearest pond and snack on the local fly cuisine. Then with a full belly, I’d sun myself on a rock and take in the warmth of the day. Eventually I’d get around to finding a friendly but powerful witch to change me back but not before experiencing life as a frog. Cos hey, how many chances are you gonna get to experience that?

YOU CAN FIND KAY AT:
Facebook Author Page -> https://www.facebook.com/kaylatour/
Twitter -> https://twitter.com/kay_latour  @kay_latour
Website/Blog -> kaylatour.weebly.com  FAE AND WITCHES AND GHOSTS-OH MY!
Pinterest -> https://www.pinterest.com/kaylatour/
Goodreads -> https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/47638367-kay-latour

LET'S GENERATE A BUZZ! Authors, artists, and poets if you would like to be a BUZZ GUEST on ‘FAE AND WITCHES AND GHOSTS—OH MY!’ please DM me on Twitter https://twitter.com/kay_latour or on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/kaylatour/
 
#fantasy #urbanfantasy #witchonparole #champagnebooks #witch #witches #fae #shifters #elven #fairy #book #books #booklover #bookworm #novel #novels #indieauthors #amwriting #amreading #writers #authors #author

  

Andrea has taken the time to answer some ‘Normal’ and ‘Not so Normal’ Questions for us.
 
‘Normal’ Questions

1. What is the name of your novel? What is it about?  

Nights Arose is a story built around the mystery of the Gem of the Red Spirit. Arose Du Mouchelle gets the Gem from an old gypsy. Using its powers, she discovers she is to act as guardian to the Gates of the Astral Plane where Demons are captive.  While there as an unseen ghost, she sees an earthbound pirate she decides to take a closer look closer but he reaches up and touches her face. Shocked she goes back to her body and discovers a Voodoo Priestess is after the Gem. She attempts to escape and is aided by non-other than the pirate she saw from the Astral Plane. He takes her to his ship. But she has been deceived, the next morning she wakes to find he and the Gem are gone.

2. Do you have a book inspiration story to share with us?  

I was inspired to write this story during a trip to Jamaica. While there, I went to Rose Hall, which is a Manor home in the middle of what was once a sugar plantation. I felt the spirits blowing through me as I looked down the road to the main house at sunset. That’s when I got the idea for the young woman hiding behind the ridge of a sand bank. While a man on a horse searched for her. His cloak flying in the wind making him look like a large bat.

3. You talk about the Astral Plane in your story. How did you learn so much about it?  

When I was young, my mother almost died. She told me her spirit had left her body and entered another plane of existence. She said there was a silver cord, which tied her to her earthbound body. She thought of me and willed her soul to be brought back into her body. Since then I studied the art of meditation, trying to reach the Astral Plane. Maybe find my mother’s spirit, who has since passed.

4. How long did it take you to complete this novel?  

I began working on this in February of 2009, I finally finished in May of 2016.

5. What is your proudest moment since the release of your book?  

I think I was most proud when during a crit exchange another writer told me he did not feel qualified to critique my work. It would be unfair to me, because he wouldn’t change a word.
 
 
‘Not so Normal’ Questions

1. You talk about the Astral Plane. Have you ever experimented with lucid dreaming? If so, do you have an experience you would like to share with us?  

I experimented many times to reach that plane.  During a meditation session, I felt my spirit pulling away, but as I looked down at myself I got very nervous and fell back into myself. It was a feeling I wasn’t ready for yet. I’m glad though my character was. I used this revelation for a scene in Nights Arose where she first guides her spirit from her body.

2. If you could invite any 5 people (i.e. cartoon character; famous person; rock band; poet; artist; living or dead) for a meal together, who would they be?  

Of course, it would start with my mother. She was interesting, beautiful and vivacious. Another guest would be Jane Austin, I would love to hear her take on today’s mores.  My third would be Maria Carolina Queen of Sicily sister to Marie Antoinette, Princess of Austria. Not only my ancestor but was a great proponent of women’s rights.  I would love to show her what I have done. Number four would be Robin Williams, just sit and listen to him talk, his knowledge and philosophy was striking. Lastly, I would ask Errol Flynn, what a handsome man, my favorite swashbuckler and the ideal Captain St. James, swoon!

3. Let’s say you’re a Superhero. What is your superpower?  

I think I would like to have the power to make people tell the truth, like Wonder Woman and her lasso. No one would ever be a get away with taking advantage of anyone else.

4. Would you rather encounter an alien or a ghost?  

I’m pretty sure I have met with them both at one time or another.  I enjoyed having a ghost around much more. The ghost was much nicer, and didn’t have ulterior motives. And, to top it off, when I asked him to leave, he did.
 
 
Thank you, Kay, for allowing me a chance to answer these fantastic questions and connect with some of your audience. Bye for now.
 


Wow! I detect another story in that last answer. Maybe someday you’ll share it with us. Awesome answers. Thank you for your candor.

Nina has taken the time to answer some ‘normal’ and ‘not so normal’ questions for us today.
 
‘Normal’ Question Spot 


1. What genre do you write in?


I write fiction and poetry.  My novels are historical romance because I’m fascinated by history, love to tell stories and do research, and am basically a romantic. 
 
2. What is the name of your new book?      

I am currently working on a fourth novel, the working title of which is Darby


3. What is it about? 

Darby is the story of young girl on the cusp of womanhood in love with Luke Wolf, a cowboy with a past, whom she leaves in New Mexico to follow her desire to discover the world through education and study in St. Louis.

4. What was your inspiration for this book?  

I’m fascinated by the old west culture.  I enjoy reading books like All the Pretty Horses, True Grit, My Antonia, Lonesome Dove, and numerous others!  My poetry collection, Westward: Guided by Starfalls and Moonbows, is written in the voice of varied personae, and as my poet friend Ruth Bavetta says, “is a meditation and fascination of the west.” 

I love investigating a time period that I seem to be stuck in: the late 1800’s early 1900’s.   I think the manuscript may be trying to be Y/A, which I’ve never attempted to write before, but I’m sure that it’ll be a crossover to adult historical fiction.   


5. Do you have a favorite book(s)?
 
Anna Karenina, Gone with the Wind, Tess of the d'Urbervilles, For Whom the Bell Tolls,  Deliverance, The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie, The Leopard—I read it seven times.
 
6. Do you have a favorite author?
 
I have several authors I’m currently reading now: Sally Cabot Gunning and Linda Hollman.  But I’d have to say my favorite fiction authors are Tolstoy, Annie Proulx, Ayn Rand, Dostoyevsky, Steinbeck, and Dennis Lehane—we got our MFA’s together at FIU.  The poets are John Donne, Mary Oliver, CK Williams, Marie Howe, Jim Daniels, Michael Hettich, Denise Duhammel, Yehuda Amichai, Ruth Bavetta, Richard Blanco, inaugural poet for Obama, also a grad of FIU, and too many others to name.
 
7. What inspires you?

Reading other people’s novels!  Nature.  Watching movies. Travel—taking cruises, voyages, trips —my husband is a world traveler and much of my poetry includes landscapes of places we have visited and toured. We lived in Rome, Italy, for twenty years and saw many European countries.  We had our own boat in Italy and visited wonderful countries, such as France and Greece, and when it was a united —Yugoslavia.  We cruised to many islands such as Sardegna, Ponza, Ventotenne, Palmarola, Sicily, Corsica, Capri, Ischia, Elbe and Lipari, to name a few.    

Last year we travelled to China and this year we travelled to Cuba, cruised to Brazil and the Amazon River, and journeyed to Poland.  I loved Poland.  The people have such a marvelous history, including their diverse geography which has been changed so many times due to war and strife that it’s amazing. The Polish people are resilient and caring.  So many brilliant and talented Polish people have contributed to culture and science: Marie Curie, Chopin, Nicholas Copernicus, Roman Polanski, Jerzy Kosiński.  
 


  
‘Not so normal’ Question Spot 

1. If you could invite any 5 people (i.e. cartoon character; famous person; rock band; poet; artist; living or dead) for a meal together, who would they be?   

Can I have 7?
 
Thomas Hardy, simply because he is an absolute SUBLIME master novelist.
 
Herman Melville, whose masterpiece Moby Dick was a failure in his lifetime.  
 
Viggo Mortenson, not because he’s an actor who does many of his own stunts, but because he’s the founder of Perceval Press, a writer and a painter, who is a lover of horses and is fluent in Spanish, which I speak, and he lived in Argentina and Denmark—two diverse and interesting countries.    

Primo Levi and Ellie Wiesel, both Holocaust survivors and wonderful writers.

Cayo Bradley, a fictional character that I invented and fell in love with. 
Leonardo Da Vinci for his brilliant mind—he was an inventor as well as an artist, and I speak Italian.   
 
2. If you could travel back in time to a country for forty-eight hours with the knowledge that you would automatically transport back to the here and now where would you go? 
 
Only forty-eight hours! There's no doubt in my mind whatsoever.  I'd be with Leonardo da Vinci--painter, architect, inventor, and student of all scientific things--a natural genius and the epitome of a “Renaissance man.” 
 
I'd sit at the master's feet, observing every one of his gestures and writings of secret notes in his many books--probably sometime during late spring one of the years between 1495 to 1498 in Milan when he painted “The Last Supper,” a masterpiece which I have been so very blessed to see with my own eyes.  
 
It's a tempera and oil mural on plaster, created for the refectory of the city’s Monastery of Santa Maria delle Grazie, known as “The Cenacle.” The work is huge--15 by 29 feet and his only surviving fresco. It's the portrayal of the Passover dinner when Christ says to the Apostles, “One of you shall betray me.” One of the painting’s celebratory features is that each Apostle has a varied and diverse emotional facial expression and body language. Jesus is centered among yet isolated from the Apostles.
 
 
 

Love your answers! And love your guest list for the ‘not so normal’ question spot and your choice of Leonardo da Vinci for your time travel answer.

  

Here we are at the ‘normal’ and ‘not so normal’ question spot.

 
‘Normal’ Questions

1. What is your latest book called? What is it about?

The Fortune Teller’s Secret came out this past March. Here are a few quick blurbs about the book.

Tagline: A dead man on a Ferris wheel and a cold-case murder take Cavendish Brown into a world of carnival kooks, ghosts, and killers.
The annual carnival comes to Maiden Falls, a small town in the West Virginia Mountains, but everything is not merry.
The ghost of a woman appears to Cavendish Brown, a carnival worker lies dead aboard a car on the Ferris wheel, and a bullied teenager plots to kill people at the carnival with a homemade bomb. More complications arise. Cavendish again butts heads with the local sheriff, Clinton Pike.
Marbella Wellingway, owner of the newspaper where Cavendish works, receives a visit from the Angel of Death. And a Fortune Teller at the carnival knows something that could forever change Cavendish’s life.
With the aid of Jane, a disturbed psychic, and Alexandra, a Goth witch, he must find the killer, help the mystery woman, and risk his life to prevent more deaths.

2. Is this book part of a series?

Book 2 in “A Cavendish Brown Paranormal Series” begins a few weeks after the first book, The Witch’s Daughter, and follows the lives of Cavendish, Jane, and Alex.  Cavendish, editor of the town newspaper, discovers things about himself that will have him questioning who he is.  Jane, a psychic, has the simple mind of a ten-year-old but she too has a past to be discovered. Alex, a Goth witch, has her own secrets.  The series will follow the threesome as they learn about themselves and how their lives are connected.

3. What genre do you write in?  

Mystery is my cup of potion. The wonderful thing is so many sub-genres exist in the mystery realm.  Romantic…cozy…police procedural…to name a few. I focus on paranormal mysteries.  

4. What do you love about it?  

Ghosts and vampires and witches and werewolves (Oh, my!). The paranormal mystery has so many areas to experiment with and try out new things.
 

‘Not so Normal’ Questions

1. If you could invite any 5 people (i.e. cartoon character; famous person; rock band; poet; artist; living or dead) for a meal together, who would they be?   

Edgar Allan Poe—the world has many great writers, but he was a genius.
Jesus Christ—religion aside he had a recipe for living in peace and harmony.
Charles Dickens—so many questions about writing to be asked.
Popeye the Sailor—you got me on this one. Just sounds like a fun guy.
My father—he’s dead now but it would be great to hang out with him again.

2. A wicked old witch has turned you into a frog.  What are you going to do with your days?    

Check out the local frog scene, probably a nearby pond. Find a lily pad. Make some frog friends. Ask around about any local princesses who’ve had good track records turning frog’s back into princes. Does that work if you aren’t a prince to begin with?

3. You have a mystery to solve. What magical creatures or persons are on your team?  

I have a witch and psychic in my series—does that count? Here’s an idea. I am a private eye in Miami who finds a bottle on a local beach. Opening it, a genie pops out named Fred. He is not very good at his craft and can’t grant any wishes, but I am stuck with him because of the genie code. Fred has a problem with the bottle, not the one he came from, the type 80 proof liquor. He becomes my sidekick when not drinking too much. When sober, he can pass through walls, squeeze into tiny places, and make fire out of nothing. When inebriated, he sits in his bottle and sings bawdy Cockney songs. Okay, not sure where this goes but it’s a start.

4. You have an imaginary friend that only you can see.  What does he/she look like?   

How about a phooka? As a kid, I saw a movie with Jimmie Stewart who played a man named Elwood who had an invisible friend named “Harvey,” also the name of the flick. This unusual companion was a phooka that looked like a tall rabbit, over 6 feet tall. Only my imaginary friend would be a ten-foot tall cottontail. Of course, with my luck, I’d end up with a creepy one like the rabbit from the Donnie Darko film.
 
 



Awesome answers! I see nothing wrong with inviting Popeye the Sailor to dinner. I chose Scooby Doo as one of my guests so there you go. And Fred the genie sounds like an interesting sidekick. Now I want to read the story if you ever write it.

YOU CAN FIND RON AT:
Website -> http://www.authorrondvoigts.com/
Twitter -> https://twitter.com/RonDVoigts  @RonDVoigts
Facebook -> https://www.facebook.com/AuthorRonDVoigts/
Goodreads -> https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4939421.Ron_D_Voigts

LET'S GENERATE A BUZZ! Authors, artists, and poets if you would like to be a BUZZ GUEST on ‘FAE AND WITCHES AND GHOSTS—OH MY!’ please DM me on Twitter https://twitter.com/kay_latour or on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/kaylatour/
 
 
#champagnebooks #thriller #paranormalmysteries #paranormal #mystery #witch #urbanfantasy #fantasy #detective #teendetective #sleuth #teenmystery #book #books #booklover #bookworm #novel #novels #indieauthors #amwriting #amreading #writers #authors #author

Here we are at the ‘normal’ and ‘not so normal’ question spot.
 
‘Normal’ Questions

1. What genre do you write in?

I don’t stick to one genre. I write around my characters, so if my characters have magical powers, I’m writing fantasy or paranormal. If my characters are normal humans with a great sense of humor, I’m writing humor. I’ve published a fantasy series, a humorous paranormal thriller, and a romantic comedy, and I have plans for a horror novel as well.

2. What do you love about it?

I love writing around my characters, because once you have them developed, the books tend to write themselves.

3. What are you working on right now?

My writing life has slowed the last few years, as I have been dealing with a family medical crisis, but I am pecking away at a sequel to my humorous paranormal thriller, Hitchhiker, and the third and final novel in my fantasy series.

4. Do you have a book inspiration story to share with us?

I’d have to say Ramona the Brave by Beverly Cleary. I WAS Ramona the Brave back in grade school. Just like Ramona, I remember staring at myself in the mirror, mousy brown hair, teary brown eyes, thinking nobody understood me. But then I read this book and I knew- someone did understand me. Beverly Cleary knew how infuriating it was that the blond Susies of the world received undeserved attention. She understood that sometimes I lost it over the injustice of it all, scrunching up that copycat owl, running for the hills like the world was out to get me. It was like she was in my head. She KNEW me. I want to write like that, steal people’s souls. I aspire to create the vivid, relatable characters at which Beverly Cleary is so accomplished. 
 
‘Not so normal’ Questions

1. If you could invite any 5 people (i.e. cartoon character; famous person; rock band; poet; artist; living or dead) for a meal together, who would they be?

I would definitely invite Benjamin Franklin, because having access to a genius for a few hours would be handy. I’d invite Mother Theresa, because she’d be inspiring. And of course I’d have to include John Lennon, Edgar Allen Poe and Truman Capote as entertainment. Lennon for his music, Poe for his creepy stories, and Capote because I’m fairly sure he knew how to party.
 
 
2. You have a mystery to solve. What magical creatures or persons are on your team?

Scooby Doo and his gang, of course. Shaggy might make me an awesome quadruple decker sandwich, and when those meddling kids solve said mystery, the solution would be some ornery guy in a mask just trying to scare people away (as opposed to a psychopath in a mask trying to kill me).

 
3. Let’s say you’re a Superhero. What is your superpower?

I’d like to be able to freeze time. While everyone else stands still, I could take a cat nap here and there. I’d have time to work out, to clean, to finish my novels, learn a new language, maybe even cure cancer, who knows? Limitless time would mean limitless possibilities.

 
4. You just bought a spaceship.  What did you name it?

Oh, it already has a name. It’s the Tardis and I made sure they threw in Matt Smith as part of the deal.
 
 


Awesome answers! And I’d have to agree with you that Scooby and his gang are a crack team of investigators. Plus who could resist a double decker sandwich made by the snack masters (Shaggy and Scooby) themselves! 

YOU CAN FIND AUDRA AT:
Website ->  http://www.audramiddleton.com/
Facebook ->  https://www.facebook.com/AudraMiddletonAuthor
Goodreads-> https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6883579.Audra_Middleton

LET'S GENERATE A BUZZ! Authors, artists, and poets if you would like to be a BUZZ GUEST on ‘FAE AND WITCHES AND GHOSTS—OH MY!’ please DM me on Twitter https://twitter.com/kay_latour or on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/kaylatour/
 
 
 
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Today my BUZZ GUEST is Danielle Riedel a Champagne Book Group author. Danielle’s first book in the SHATTER series is SMILE AND WALK AWAY.  

Danielle has taken the time to answer some ‘normal’ and ‘not so normal’ questions for us today.
 
‘Normal’ Questions

1. You’re first book is out. What is it called?

My debut novel is called Smile and Walk Away.

 2. What is it about?

Velma Bloom is a 25-year old, Vassar educated waitress with a rebellious streak and a long list of vices. On the same day she’s reported missing, police discover the corpses of two Russian men in the basement of a suburban home. Detectives first think they’re dealing with two separate and simple cases: a runaway girl and a Russian Mafia conflict. But why is Velma Bloom’s car, the only trace of her, parked in front of the house with the two dead men?

Rookie detective Jackson Duran is assigned to lead the search for Velma. His refusal to dismiss a possible connection between the missing woman and the murder scene lead him to some alarming discoveries. Armed with a far-reaching and dark imagination, a penchant for breaking rules, an obsessive personality, and a few bottles of Johnny Walker, Duran relentlessly pursues answers- even after he realizes he’d be safer without knowing them.

 3. Is your book the first in a series?

This book is the first in a series called Shatter.  When I finished writing Smile and Walk Away, I had complete outlines done for another two books. The more I continue to write, the further I realize I can take things. I often surprise myself with what comes into my head, and sometimes I give myself nightmares. That’s when I know I have something really worth writing.

 4. Do you have a book inspiration story to share with us?

This series has been incubating for more than a decade. I was in college when Velma Bloom first appeared on paper. At the time, she was an ancillary character in a kind of warped, Freudian psychodrama. She resurfaced in my mind years later and I decided she should be promoted to protagonist. I dove in to writing her story. Life and day jobs got in the way, and the book kept getting moved to my back burner. Then, a little over two years ago, a friend of mine passed away unexpectedly at age twenty-five. She was a wonderful human being and had planned to do so much good for the world. Between becoming painfully aware of my own mortality and not wanting to dishonor her memory by wasting what time I have, I felt a fire being lit under me. I started writing between three and five thousand words a day. A couple months later, I had a complete first draft of the project I’d been allowing myself to put off for the last fifteen years.
 
‘Not so normal’ Questions

1. If you could invite any 5 people (i.e. cartoon character; famous person; rock band; poet; artist; living or dead) for a meal together, who would they be?

My selfish answer to this question would be a group of people who would bring a combination of intellect, humor, and appreciation of fine wine: Mel Brooks, Dr. Frasier Crane, Carol Burnett, Vincent Price, and Tyrion Lannister. However, for the good of the world, there is a different set of five people I would bring into a room together. The first four would be Liudmyla Mykhailivna Pavlichnko (the Russian sniper also known as Lady Death), Inigo Montoya, Aeon Flux, and Arya Stark. The fifth would be an unarmed Mike Pence.

 2. You have a mystery to solve. What magical creatures or persons are on your team?

If I had a mystery to solve, the first person I would enlist to help me would be my own fictional character, Detective Jackson Duran. He has his quirks, and he can be a bit anti-social at times, but I like the way he thinks. He makes his own rules.

 3. You have an imaginary friend that only you can see.  What does he/she look like? 

He is an immortal version of my first cat. He’s a big boned orange tabby. Every night, he snuggles with me in bed until I fall asleep. He then sneaks out to enact vigilante justice until morning.

 4. Would you rather encounter an alien or a ghost? 

I would rather encounter an alien than a ghost. Assuming the ghost would be the ghost of a human, there would only be so much we could learn from them. An alien, however, could lead to scientific advancements we’re as of yet unable to fathom. Why are they here, how did they get here? What research have they done? Could Earth’s scientists and theirs compare notes to the end of deepening everyone’s understanding of the universe?
 


Wow! Great answers. As for the alien part, might I recommend the awesome series ANCIENT ALIENS. It’s totally worth the look.

YOU CAN FIND DANIELLE AT:
Website -> www.danielleriedel.com
Facebook -> https://www.facebook.com/DanielleRiedelAuthor/
Twitter -> https://twitter.com/DanielleERiedel

LET'S GENERATE A BUZZ! Authors, artists, and poets if you would like to be a BUZZ GUEST on ‘FAE AND WITCHES AND GHOSTS—OH MY!’ please DM me on Twitter https://twitter.com/kay_latour or on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/kaylatour/
 
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 Stories and recipes from that magical island - Sicily!

 

Diane has taken the time to answer some ‘normal’ and ‘not so normal’ questions for us today.
 
‘Normal’ Question Spot

1. You just released a novel. What is the name of it?   

The Bastard of Saint Genevra

2. What is it about?  

The Bastard of Saint Genevra is a story of family secrets revealed.  It is a sweeping tale of three women that spans half the world and nearly a thousand years.  Elena steps off a plane in Trapani in search of her birth mother. Genevra undertakes a spiritual journey that begins with an unexpected pregnancy.  Cristiana gives up her child and leaves her half a world away to return to her life and family in Sperlinga. It is an exploration of what mystical connections ties these three women together.

3. If you could have anyone take something away from having read your novel, what would it be.  

That secrets kill families.There are no secrets that are worth keeping.

4. What are you working on right now?   

I am doing a final edit on a book called The Rose: A Hirsute Horror.  It is a psychological horror about a man powerless to leave his apartment in a building with hallways stalked by a monster.

5. Do you have a book inspiration story to share with us?  

I think it is more of an “author inspiration” story.  Like so many people, I had always wanted to write a novel, but the thought of writing one to conclusion seemed so daunting, especially as I was a working single mother, that I had pretty much given up on the idea.  One day, when I was 48, I heard Sylvia Olsen as she was giving a talk to a group of teens.  She said that she had published her first book at age 50.  I thought to myself, if she can do it, so can I.  I entered the Three-Day Novel Contest, wrote Greenwich List, and it was published 16 months later, on my 50th birthday.
 
‘Not so Normal’ Question Spot

1. If you could invite any 5 people (i.e. cartoon character; famous person; rock band; poet; artist; living or dead) for a meal together, who would they be? 
 
Sorry, it can’t be five.  I can’t decide on five.  Merlin (yes, the wizard), JK Rowling, Stephen King, Craig Ferguson, JRR Tolkien, and Oscar Wilde.  This took some thinking.  There were other people that, if I could have met them individually, I would have listed them, but as the guests at a literary dinner party, I think this would make an interesting group. Rowling, King, and Wilde are obvious.  Craig Ferguson is a decent novelist, knows how to get people talking, and is (I suspect) a lot more intelligent that he would have people believe.  Merlin could shed light on the Arthurian tales – plus I think it would be interesting to hear what an old-time druid would think about the literary scene now, especially since the druids were very much against anything written down. I would also love to host a dinner party of world changers – Gandhi, Nelson Mandela, Viola Desmond, Charles Dickens, Malala, and the Dalai Lama – but that would be an entirely different meal.

2. What magical place that you’ve read about would you like to visit?   

#1 is Hogwarts, of course, and then Narnia. Oh, and the Shire.

3. Would you rather have the ability to read minds or see into the future?   

Oh, neither. I don’t want to know what other people think about me and I don’t want to really know what is going to happen.  That isn’t to say that I don’t like getting my tarot cards read, but I want there to be an element of surprise in what is coming up.  If I could have an ability, I’d like to be able to see into the past – what it was really like.  What did it look like?  What did people talk like or dress like or believe.  And if it couldn’t be that ability, I’d like to be fluent in every language – real or imagined – that there is.

4. You have an imaginary friend that only you can see.  What does he/she look like?   

I’ve had a number of imaginary friends in my life.  When I was little, it was an imaginary bear named Teddy (I know, super original, right?) who travelled all over the world with me on horseback.  When I was a teen, it was Elton John.  Not so imaginary, just imaginary in my life.  And in my twenties…. Well, let’s just say he had a monster chest, great abs, and….  Nope.  Not saying anymore.  :)

 


Love your answers! And it makes sense that you would choose the ability to see into the past over seeing into the future given you are a historical fiction author. I too love history. It’s so interesting and there is so much to learn from it.

YOU CAN FIND DIANE AT:
Facebook -> https://www.facebook.com/dianegallagherwritings/
Twitter -> https://twitter.com/diane_writes  @diane_writes
Website -> https://dianegallagherwritings.com
Goodreads Author -> https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8092262.Diane_Gallagher
Goodreads THE BASTARD OF SAINT GENEVRA -> https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/34565584-the-bastard-of-saint-genevra

LET'S GENERATE A BUZZ! Authors, artists, and poets if you would like to be a BUZZ GUEST on ‘FAE AND WITCHES AND GHOSTS—OH MY!’ please DM me on Twitter https://twitter.com/kay_latour or on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/kaylatour/
 
 
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Today we are featuring Andrea’s CLAIMED series.

Andrea R. Cooper has taken the time to answer some ‘normal’ and ‘not so normal’ questions for us.
 

‘Normal’ Questions

1. What genre do you write in?  

I write primarily in paranormal romance but also have a historical romance and a fantasy romance series.

2. What do you love about it?  

With paranormal romance, there are so many possibilities of characters, worlds, and romance. I love reading the genre because writing in the paranormal world is never enough.

3. What are your series titles? Can you tell us a little about them?  

Claimed – is my new series and are paranormal romance stories based on either an Incubus or a Succubus and their love interest. There is plenty of action and adventure in all my stories and passion.
 
Viking Fire – is my historical romance series. The prequel is all from Bram’s POV and how he falls in love with Karieen, the feisty Irish Laird’s daughter. Viking Fire is primarily from Karieen’s POV and her struggle to overcome her prejudice and fall for Bram.
 
Legends of Oblivion – Fantasy romance series and is based on what happens if a vampire were to bite an Elf (Lord of the Rings Elvin, not the shoemaker kind).
 
 
‘Not So Normal’ Questions

1. If you could invite any 5 people (i.e. cartoon character; famous person; rock band; poet; artist; living or dead) for a meal together, who would they be?   

J.K. Rowling, Terry Goodkind, George R.R. Martin, Anne Bishop, and Yasmine Gaelnorn. And I’d talk story and writing with them for as long as I could.

2. You’re dressed to attend a Medieval Fair.  What are you wearing? 
 
A medieval warrior costume similar to the picture here:

But with a sword and bow.

3. You’re on a quest to find a magical gem. What magical creatures or persons are on your team?  

A dwarf, because they can sense gems if close enough. A witch because with the gem being magical, there will be spells and enchanted traps to avoid. A paladin and a ranger– for the heavy fighting.

4. What magical place and time period would you like to visit?   

Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. A close runner up would be the Silvan Elves in Lord of the Rings series.
 


Awesome answers! Love your medieval costume choice.

YOU CAN FIND ANDREA R. COOPER AT:
Website -> www.AndreaRCooper.com
Facebook -> https://www.facebook.com/AndreaRCooper.author
Twitter -> https://twitter.com/AndreaRCooper  @AndreaRCooper
Goodreads -> http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6934877.Andrea_R_Cooper
Blog -> http://andrearcooperauthorblog.wordpress.com/
Pinterest -> http://www.pinterest.com/andrearcooper/

LET'S GENERATE A BUZZ! Authors, artists, and poets if you would like to be a BUZZ GUEST on ‘FAE AND WITCHES AND GHOSTS—OH MY!’ please DM me on Twitter https://twitter.com/kay_latour or on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/kaylatour/

 

Here we are at the ‘Normal’ and ‘Not so Normal’ question spot. 😊
 
‘Normal’ Question Spot

1. What genre do you write in?   

I write mostly Paranormal romance, but I've also written suspense and ghost stories as well.

2. What do you love about your genre?  

Everything. LOL. I have always been fascinated with spooky stories, movies and tales. I grew up in a haunted house so that should tell you something about me. But its not just the scare, its the chance to create my own worlds, creatures and scenarios. Vampires, who doesn't love a vampire, are so much fun to write because you can make them into anything you want.

3. Do you have a new release coming soon?  

I have two, actually. The seventh book in my Darkness series, Consuming the Darkness and the third book in my Demon series, Conquer the Demon will both be out later this month and next month. You can go to my website to catch a glimpse of them both.

4. What are you currently working on?   

Right now, I am rewriting the last book in my Darkness series, Surviving the Darkness. All of the Darkness books have been previously published. When my latest publisher, Champagne Books took them under their wing, I got to do some rewrites. Penetrating the Darkness is a whole new book so if you've read the original you might want to get the new one. Surviving needed some major repairs so instead of hacking it to bits, I decided just to rewrite it.
 

‘Not so Normal’ Question Spot

1. You’re dressed to attend a Cosplay event. What are you wearing?  

Wow, that's a tough one. There are so many. Gamora from Guardians of the Galaxy would be one. Harley Quinn because she is just Bat shit crazy. LOL. And Deadpool.

2. If you had wings what would they look like? Fairy or Angel? What color and size?  

If I'm going to have wings they are going to be huge. What is the point to small wings. I'm thinking dragon wings.

3. You have a magical pet. What is it? What does it look like?  

Its a toss between a dragon and a Pegasus.The dragon would be gold, red and black, not as large as the ones you see in movies but large enough to scare predators. The Pegasus would be white with a silver mane and tail.

4. If you could invite any 5 people (i.e. cartoon character; famous person; rock band; poet; artist; living or dead) for a meal together, who would they be?    

Ryan Reynolds and Deadpool. Marylin Monroe. Michael Jackson. Prince.
 
 

Wow! You grew up in a haunted house! Maybe someday we’ll get to hear about some of your ghostly encounters. Fingers crossed. 😊

YOU CAN FIND SHIELA AT:
Facebook -> https://www.facebook.com/shiela.stewart
Twitter -> https://twitter.com/ShielaSue  @ShielaSue
Website -> www.shielastewartsbooks.com
Pinterest -> https://www.pinterest.com/shielastewart/

 
LET'S GENERATE A BUZZ! Authors, artists, and poets if you would like to be a BUZZ GUEST on ‘FAE AND WITCHES AND GHOSTS—OH MY!’ please DM me on Twitter https://twitter.com/kay_latour or on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/kaylatour/
 
 
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Celia has a short for this series called VAMPIRE CODE.

  
The third book in this series is in the works with a tentative title of ORIGINS.
 
 
Here we are at the ‘normal’ and ‘not so normal’ question spot.

 ‘Normal’ Question Spot

1. What genre do you write in?  

I write fiction; primarily urban fantasy and paranormal romance.

2. What do you love about it?  

I love bringing my stories into the world. There are a lot of characters and ideas running amok in my head.

3. Who, or what, inspired you to write?  

I’ve been writing stories since I was a kid. My Irish grandmother inspired me with her stories of the Fae, including one tale of her personal encounter with a Banshee in her root cellar. Imagination fueled, I wrote a lot of tales as a kid. And I haven’t stopped yet.

4. You have two book series, THE BLACK HILL WOLVES, and THE TRANQUILLI BLOODLINE. What are they about?  

Decadent Publishing’s Black Hills Wolves line is a paranormal romance, multi-author, shared world centering around the Tao wolf pack of Los Lobos, in the Black Hills of South Dakota. All books are standalone and can be read in any order.  I wrote a “Moon” trilogy about my Luparell siblings for the series: Diamond Moon (Ross and Darci), Under A Mating Moon (Lexi and Jake), and Jasmine Moon (Evan and Jasmine). In my three stories, I introduce my new characters and locations to the world, use some preexisting town locales for a few activities (such as Gee’s Bar), and have other author’s characters make cameos. And, of course, romance is front and center in all my stories, as my heroes and heroines work for their Happily Ever Afters.
 
The Tranquilli Bloodline is my urban fantasy, vampire series, published by Champagne Books. The series stars Carina Tranquilli, a San Francisco dance club owner whose world is turned upside down when she discovers she has a vampire family. Dysfunctional family drama ensues, complicated by her family’s numerous enemies who’d love to use Carina as a pawn. Or, kill her. They’re not too picky.  In between much vampire mayhem, Carina meets her soul mate Alexander, a sexy, undead musician… Two novels and one short story are currently available in the series:  Haven (#1), Destiny (#2), and Vampire Code (.5). The third novel, Origins, is in progress… 
 
‘Not so normal’ Question Spot

1. You’ve been bitten by a werewolf the month before.  It’s the full moon and tonight’s the night of your first change.  How do you prepare for this?  What color is your fur?  

Oh, easy!  I hang out with my wolf shifters:  my Black Hills Wolves and also the sexy-as-sin Wallace wolves from the Tranquilli Bloodline series. Knowing the Wallace men, they’ll likely ply me with a bit of whiskey before the shift happens. I’m sure all of them will provide me with numerous pointers and then take me for my first-ever run, in the Marin Headlands (just over the Golden Gate Bridge). My fur is red, of course. I’m a redhead, after all.

 2. Are you a lone wolf or part of the pack?  

Definitely part of a pack! Have I mentioned the sexy Wallace men? Oh, right. I have, LOL.

3. Your sire has sent you on a quest to bring back one of his flock. What magical creatures or persons do you bring with you to accomplish that task?
 
Assuming the missing flock member was kidnapped… I bring along two vampire enforcers (Primo and Segundo) and the Wallace wolf brothers because they’re all fierce fighters and excellent trackers.

4. You’re a newly sired vampire. Where do you sleep? What do you hunt and with who?  

I sleep in my bedroom in my comfy bed, of course. With blackout curtains on the windows. I don’t hunt; my sire’s minions bring us blood from the blood bank or from a willing donor.
 
 
Awesome answers! I would love to hear about your grandmother’s experience with the Banshee someday. Scratch the surface and you often find that the unexplained has visited us all in some way, shape, or form.  

YOU CAN FIND CELIA AT:
Web site: http://www.celiabreslin.com/
 
Blog: http://www.celiabreslin.com/blog/
 
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/celiabreslin
 
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CeliaBreslinAuthor
 
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/CeliaBreslin
 
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/celiabreslin/
 
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/celiabreslin/
 
Newsletter:  http://eepurl.com/bxqwRL

LET'S GENERATE A BUZZ! Authors, artists, and poets if you would like to be a BUZZ GUEST on ‘FAE AND WITCHES AND GHOSTS—OH MY!’ please DM me on Twitter https://twitter.com/kay_latour or on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/kaylatour/
 
 
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Here’s the Blurb for TRAITOR KNIGHT!

When Morgan McRobbie rescues a damsel-in-distress from a dragon, he expects she’ll swoon, murmuring “My hero!” Instead, Marissa has only loathing for the man everyone believes will betray Kilbourne. That’s fine with Morgan. A woman in his life would just complicate things.

A high-level informer threatens the kingdom’s security, and Morgan is out to stop him. Posing as a turncoat himself, he’s walking a fine line between honor and betrayal. A single misstep could result in disaster, and his mission is fraught with distractions: the pesky dragon, a pair of conniving courtiers, and the disillusioned damsel who’s certain Morgan can’t be trusted.

If Morgan’s going to save the kingdom, win the girl, and manage to stay alive, he’ll need to step up his game. Because the traitor is lurking in the shadows, and his scheme calls not just for the betrayal of Kilbourne, but also the destruction of Morgan McRobbie.

Here’s the BLURB for DESPERATE KNIGHT!

Morgan McRobbie and Lady Marissa duBerry swing back into swashbuckling action, facing old enemies, new threats, and a diabolical conspiracy. Not to mention a more personal battle, one with hearts and pride at stake.

 As the pair escorts Prince Robert to the dwarf king’s court, a fiendish scheme is unfolding, intended to hurl men and dwarves into a devastating war. Morgan ends up sidetracked by a kidnapped dwarf and a centuries-old feud, while a mysterious wizard’s revelations shake Marissa to her core, throwing into question everything she thought she knew about her past and future. And the advent of a rival for Marissa’s affections threatens any hope of a happy ending—if they survive.

Once again, the desperate knight and indomitable damsel must hazard everything on a single throw of the dice, gambling on untested allies and unimagined weapons to save their world. And the odds have never been worse.  

Keith has taken the time to answer some ‘normal’ questions and ‘not so normal’ questions for us.
 
‘Normal’ Question Spot
1. What is the name of your book?  

My debut novel , out for about 18 months, is Traitor Knight
 
2. What is your book about? 

Traitor Knight is a fast-paced fantasy/romance that’s an homage to both the Saturday-matinee swashbucklers of Errol Flynn and the bantering screwball comedies of the 30’s and 40’s. A dashing knight who’s thwarted at every turn and a fast-talking damsel-in-distress with trust issues meet, courtesy of a dragon with an inconvenient case of hiccups. As they dodge assassins and chase spies in order to save their kingdom, Morgan and Marissa must contend with lies and deceptions, mistaken motives and identities, and the unwelcome realization that they might just be falling in love.

3. What inspired you to write it?

I’ve always loved fantasy, and especially fantasy laced with humor (Sir Terry Pratchett and Christopher Stasheff, for example). When I began Traitor Knight I had the first scene pretty much fixed in my mind—I knew I wanted to begin with the traditional Knight vs Dragon trope, but turned on its ear a bit. So the only way my hero gets out of the first chapter alive is because the dragon comes down with hiccups. And the distressed damsel he rescues despises him for the traitor she (and everyone else) believes him to be.

Another strong inspiration (for the hiccupping dragon) was the classic Looney Toons short Knighty Knight Bugs, the only Bugs Bunny cartoon to win an Academy Award. This is where the notion of the hiccupping dragon came from…

4. Is it a standalone or a series?

Traitor Knight is the first of a series; book two, Desperate Knight, is set to be released this summer. And I have the third book in its beginning stages, along with a companion volume of short stories that provide a glimpse into the backstory of both main characters and a lot of the secondary characters. These tales were things that really didn’t belong in the novels, but were too good to just let go.

5. Do you have a favorite author?

Too many to name, but I’ll toss out a few: Terry Pratchett; Christopher Stasheff; Michael J. Sullivan; Robert A. Heinlein; Isaac Asimov; Rex Stout; PG Wodehouse; Dorothy Gilman; Georgette Heyer; Lauren Willig; and Phoebe Atwood Taylor. And eclectic bunch, to be sure.

‘Not so normal’ Question Spot

1. You have a favorite sword. What did you name it? Is there a special gem or sigil on it? How do you sharpen it?

I’m afraid I’m going to disappoint a lot of folk here, because my sword is pretty boringly prosaic. It’s a weapon, not a magical frou-frou. It has no mystic powers or mysterious heritage. And definitely no gems or sigils; they get in the way. No name, either. It’s actually the Clint Eastwood of swords---The Sword With No Name… It’s a rather utilitarian piece, sharpened to a fine edge by my local smith, who does nice work and comes highly recommended. And I use it when I have to. To kill people before they kill me.

2. You have a magical pet.  What is it?  What does it look like? 

He’s large. Very large. With azure iridescent scales, leathery wings, a spiked tail, and faceted emerald eyes. Oh, and he can breathe fire. And cleaning out his litter box can be a real chore.

3. What magical place that you’ve read about would you like to visit? 

The most magical place on earth, Disn… Oh. That’s not what you meant, is it? Well, I did order Fodor’s “Guide to Mordor on a Budget”, but after reading it, I don’t think I’ll go. No beach, and the natives don’t sound particularly friendly. So I guess my choice would be the Discworld. As long as I can take The Luggage…

4. You’re going on a quest to save the Queen who is trapped in a tower. What magical creatures or persons are on your team?

Hmmm. Not a lot of information here to go on, is there. How tall is the tower? What’s it made of? Are there guards? If so, are they big? Are they intelligent? Are they bribable?

All things considered, however, I think I’d bring my magical dragon (who is NOT named Puff…); my friendly neighborhood wizard, who might be able to cast an invisibility spell (if he’s having a good day); and my magical burglar and his magical lockpics. Oh, and The Sword With No Name…
 
 

Awesome answers Keith! And I think The Sword with No Name can classify as a name all by itself. Love your hiccupping dragon and the Knighty Knight Bugs video. Fun!

YOU CAN FIND KEITH AT:
Website -> http://www.keithwillisauthor.com/
Twitter -> https://twitter.com/kilbourneknight   @kilbourneknight
Facebook (personal) -> https://www.facebook.com/keith.willis.581
Facebook (TRAITOR KNIGHT) -> https://www.facebook.com/TRAITOR-KNIGHT-191368320972613/

LET'S GENERATE A BUZZ! Authors, artists, and poets if you would like to be a BUZZ GUEST on ‘FAE AND WITCHES AND GHOSTS—OH MY!’ please DM me on Twitter https://twitter.com/kay_latour or on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/kaylatour/

 

J. S. Marlo has taken the time to answer some ‘normal’ and ‘not so normal’ questions for us.
 
‘Normal’ Question Spot

1. What genre do you write in?

I write romantic suspense, which is a mix of romance, suspense and mystery.
 
2. What do you love about it?

Romance may make the world go round, but suspense creates unpredictable twists and turns and mystery adds a layer of suspicion. I love playing with all those elements.
 
3. Do you have a favorite character from your novels?

I love all my characters, even the ones I love to hate. When you spend a year with them you get to know them pretty well. Between you and me, I cried when some of them died. Each one contains a small part of me or someone I love (or don’t love so much).
 
If I had to choose, I’d pick Star from Salvaged. Star was my first “imaginary” baby and her character was based on my first “real” baby. Scuba diving is a huge part of my daughter’s job and life. One summer many years ago, she explored shipwrecks on the Atlantic Coast. Some wrecks were hundreds of years old. Her tales were fascinating and her discoveries intriguing. That’s when the idea of having a young female scuba diver as the heroine of my story struck me. My daughter served as my technical adviser and she even got me to put on her scuba gear so I’d know what it feels like, but I stayed away from ships. Instead, I gave Star an old Model-T sunk at the bottom of a lake to explore – and gave my daughter a cameo in the book.
 
4. Do you have any work in progress?

I’m working on the last edits of Hot Water #3, the last book of my Heart & Endurance Series, which is scheduled to be released in August 2017. That being said, Thin Ice (Heart & Endurance 2) is coming out this Monday on May 8th, and release week is always busy. I’m also halfway through my next novel Voted Out. I’m not sure yet if it’ll be a stand-alone or the first book of a new series...I guess I’ll have to wait till the end to see if my characters want to come back or not.
 
5. What do you do in your spare time when you’re not working, writing or reading?

I go to the gym four times a week. It’s not that I “love” training, but I love eating chocolate. Now, I went to visit my aunt back east some months ago, and while I was there, she taught me how to weave dish towels on a big floor loom. Not only was it the most relaxing afternoon I spent in a very long time, I also made three gorgeous dish towels. Okay, I admit there were a few mistakes in the pattern of one of them, but the other two looked amazing. So, I’m actually looking for a used floor loom to buy. That’s a traditional craft I’d really like to share to my granddaughter one day.
 
‘Not so normal’ Question Spot

1. If you could invite any 5 people (i.e. cartoon character; famous person; rock band; poet; artist; living or dead) for a meal together, who would they be?

- Queen Cleopatra – to discover Ancient Egypt.
- The mother of modern nursing Florence Nightingale – to listen to the changes she implemented to improve patients’ care and the struggles she encountered.
- The physicist Marie Curie – to learn what prompted her to research radioactivity.
- The musical group ABBA – to hear them sing.
- The author Dan Brown – to chat about his Robert Langdon’s series.
 
2. You have an imaginary friend that only you can see. What does he look like?

You know those funny yellow creatures with one or two eyes called Minions that yell “banana” and turn purple when they go crazy? Well, I worked in an election office for three months a few years back and every day someone brought a new quote featuring a Minion. One of my favorites was “You know it’s gonna be a bad day when your imaginary friend files a restraining order against you”. From then on, I’ve pictured my imaginary friend as a Minion. A purple Minion.
 
3. If you had wings what would they look like? Fairy or Angel? What color and size?

I’d like small butterfly wings that sparkled teal and purple in the misty dawn.
 
4. Would you rather have the ability to read minds or see into the future?

I wouldn’t want to see into the future because it would mean everything is predetermined. It would also take away the good surprises and make you grieve ahead of the bad events. At the same time, I don’t think I’d like to be able to read mind. You know what they say about the truth, “All truth is good, but not all truth is good to say”. Sometimes it’s not about lying to people, it’s about protecting their feelings by not telling them everything. Being able to read mind would take away that protection. I’m good at multi-tasking but guess I wasn’t born to handle superpower.
 
Love your answers! I could totally see a purple Minion as an awesome imaginary friend.

YOU CAN FIND J. S. MARLO AT:
Twitter -> https://twitter.com/JSMarloAuthor  @JSMarloAuthor
Facebook -> https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100005715001393
Website -> https://sites.google.com/site/jsmarloauthor/home

Goodreads -> https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2079858.J_S_Marlo

LET'S GENERATE A BUZZ! Authors, artists, and poets if you would like to be a BUZZ GUEST on ‘FAE AND WITCHES AND GHOSTS—OH MY!’ please DM me on Twitter https://twitter.com/kay_latour or on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/kaylatour/

Available June 3rd, 2017.

Here's the Blurb!

After several weeks of being investigated for possible involvement in stock manipulation crimes, Maddie Windsor is getting on with her life by taking a vacation on the island of Utila, the scuba diver’s Mecca. She is determined to achieve one of her fondest wishes, to pass her PADI scuba diving basic level.
 
It's daunting to tackle her first trip outside of North America, let alone navigating Honduras by herself and arriving at the Utila Dive Lodge, luggage intact. So it's a good thing Maddie’s protective Dive Master in Vancouver, knows a guy. Deke Ellis is that guy and is also bound for the dive lodge.
 
Except Deke was already volun-told to track Maddie by his boss, as a favour for the RCMP. Seven million is missing and so is Alan Greenway, Maddie's ex-boyfriend. If Alan shows his face in Utila, Deke has to stay focused, even if he finds Maddie unbelievably tempting.
 

Yvonne has taken the time to answer some ‘normal’ questions and ‘not so normal’ questions for us today.
 
‘Normal’ Question Spot
1. What is the name of your new book?     

"Diving in Heart First"

2. What is it about? 

After several weeks of being investigated for possible involvement in stock manipulation crimes, Maddie Windsor is getting on with her life by taking a vacation on the island of Utila, the scuba divers Mecca. She is determined to achieve one of her fondest wishes, to pass her PADI scuba diving basic level.
It's daunting to tackle her first trip outside of North America, let alone navigating Honduras by herself and arriving in Utila, luggage intact. So it's a good thing Maddie’s protective Dive Master, Chris, in Vancouver "knows a guy", Deke Ellis, who is also bound for Utila.
 
Except Deke was already volun-told to track Maddie by his boss, as a favour for the RCMP. Seven million is missing and so is Alan Greenway, Maddie's ex-boyfriend. If Alan shows his face in Utila, Deke has to stay focused, even if he finds Maddie unbelievably tempting.

 3. What was your inspiration for this book? 

We were on a scuba diving vacation at the Utila Dive Lodge and I got to thinking about writing a romance located on the island. So many things that happen in the novel, happened to us or travel companions. Even the crocodile.

4. What is the crossover between this book and your VIC books?

The hero, Deke Ellis, works for the same covert agency, Security and Protection Services, SPS, as Helly Cooper and Will Conall from Hell Cat. It is also mentioned that Deke knows Will.There is also a small cross over from this novel to "Trusting the Wolf", book 3 of the VIC Shapeshifter series, out this summer. The heroine, Maddie Windsor's brother Matt has a small part in that novel and the upcoming book 4.
 
‘Not so normal’ Question Spot

1. If you could invite any 5 people (i.e. cartoon character; famous person; rock band; poet; artist; living or dead) for a meal together, who would they be? 

Jamie Oliver, he's cooking! Author Tanya Huff, Leslie my daughter, Tammy daughter-in-law, Jann Arden.

2. You’ve been bitten by a werewolf the month before.  It’s the full moon and tonight’s the night of your first change.  How do you prepare for this?  What color is your fur? 

I arrange to be out in the woods or the bush for my first change. I want a Mage with me, just in case to tap into creation magic if it's necessary, and when I change under the glow of the new moon, my pelt it cinnamon with slashes of beige, excellent camouflage.

3. Are you a lone wolf or part of the pack?

Pack is everything, we all need to belong to something larger than ourselves.

4. You have a mystery to solve. What magical creatures or persons are on your team?

A witch, a mage, a shaman, a selkie and a dragon. Earth, wind, fire, and water are covered, and magic.
 


Wow! A crocodile? Yikes! I love how your romance novel has a crossover to your urban fantasy series. That makes it all the more fun.

YOU CAN FIND YVONNE AT:
Facebook -> https://www.facebook.com/yvonne.havelangerediger
Twitter -> https://twitter.com/blackyvy  @blackyvy
Website -> http://blackyvy50.wix.com/yvonnerediger
Pinterest -> https://www.pinterest.com/yvonnerediger/

LET'S GENERATE A BUZZ! Authors, artists, and poets if you would like to be a BUZZ GUEST on ‘FAE AND WITCHES AND GHOSTS-OH MY!’ please DM me on Twitter https://twitter.com/kay_latour or on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/kaylatour/
 

#vicshapeshifters #paranormal #pnr #Suspense #holiday #diving #fantasy #fantasybook #fantasybooks #fantasyseries #fantasytales #fantasytale #fantasystory #fantasystories #urbanfantasy #urbanfantasybook #urbanfantasybooks #urbanfantasynovel #urbanfantasynovels #supernatural #writing #book #books #bookworm #bookseries #novel #novels #indieauthors #amwriting #amreading #amreadingfantasy #writers #authors #author

Ron has taken the time to answer some ‘normal’ questions and ‘not so normal’ questions for us today.

‘Normal’ Question Spot
1. What genre do you write in?
Mainly Fantasy, (because I like to make things up and hate too much research?) and Science Fiction (because that’s a lot of what I grew up reading and still enjoy it.) I also do a bit of horror (and have an idea for a horror novel that may never get written.) I’ve had editors tell me I could put in more romance, and also editors tell me not to.
 
2. Do you have a favorite book(s)?

This week? Almost anything by Terry Pratchett or Guy Gavriel Kay. For example: “Colour of Magic” “Hogfather” “Children of Earth and Sky” “Red Planet Blues” (Sawyer) And the Game of Thrones Song of Ice and Fire Series.
 
3. Do you have a favorite author?

Too many! Obviously Pratchett, Kay, Sawyer, and of course, George R.R. Martin. Have a new author I have to look into I’ve never read, James S.A. Corey, because I really enjoy the TV series “The Expanse” based on his books. I usually go from the book to the TV show or movie, not the other way around.
 
4. What inspires you?
Do you mean what inspires me to write a story? I’ve written stories based on seeing an interesting face on a TV screen, a newspaper headline, a documentary. Anything to get me thinking. For example, I watched a documentary on the ancient city of Troy. That got me thinking about how terrible it would be to be trapped in a burning city under siege. That resulted in the opening scenes of The Queen’s Pawn which then galloped madly off in a completely different direction.
 

‘Not so normal’ Question Spot
1. You have a murder case to solve. What magical creatures or persons are on your team?

Would be handy to have a wizard as back-up, and a hero for muscle, and a seer who could peer into the future. And maybe a quiet little somebody no one would notice or be suspicious of.
 
 
2. If you could invite any 5 people (i.e. cartoon character; famous person; rock band; poet; artist; living or dead) for a meal together, who would they be?

Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman, Mel from Firefly, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and Elvis.  No idea what we are having for dinner though. Might want to do more than one dinner party with another group, this list could be endless.
 
 
3. You’ve been bitten by a werewolf the month before. It’s the full moon and tonight’s the night of your first change. How do you prepare for this? What color is your fur?

Probably a good idea to find someone I trust to lock me in a strong room until this is over. Plan B would be to head a long way out into the country and a lonely remote cabin in the woods. Black fur.
 
 
4. Would you rather have the ability to read minds or see into the future?
I think I’d rather see into the future especially if I could see a long way. I’m curious about the future. Reading minds might get very messy very fast.
 
Awesome answers Ron! I’m a GAME OF THRONES, BUFFY and FIREFLY fan myself. BROWNCOATS FOREVER!

YOU CAN FIND R.J. HORE AT:
Facebook -> www.facebook.com/RonaldJHore
Goodreads -> https://goodreads.com/author/show/5752744.R_J_Hore
Website -> www.ronaldhore.com

LET'S GENERATE A BUZZ! Authors, artists and poets if you would like to be a BUZZ GUEST on ‘FAE AND WITCHES AND GHOSTS—OH MY!’ please DM me on Twitter https://twitter.com/kay_latour or on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/kaylatour/

Judith has taken the time to answer some ‘normal’ and ‘not so normal’ questions for us:

1. What is the name of your novel? 

Ghosted: A Novel of Life, Love and Moving On

2. What is your novel about?

Hannah wants to relocate herself and her cat, Jimi, to the countryside of Calgary. So when she finds a turn-of-the-century home in a small town at a good price she jumps at the opportunity.
Shortly after she moves in, strange noises, disturbances, and slamming doors hamper her efforts to make any changes in the house. Jimi starts acting odd, and the disturbances only increase in intensity. But Hannah is no quitter, and by talking with long-time residents of her town, and with the help of a psychic, Hannah pieces together the tragic story of her resident ghost. By understanding why the ghost is unable to let go, Hannah comes to terms with her inability to let go of her own heartbreaking past.

 3.  Is this the first in a series?

No. This is a standalone story.
 
4.  What inspired you to write this book?

It was a number of things, actually. A friend introduced me to a shaggy, black kitten she was fostering. She said that she had named the tiny cat Jimi, because he looked like Jimi Hendrix. I thought of my grandfather, who, although he had a gruff and severe personality, loved cats. I could imagine my grandfathers ghost hanging around an old house just because he liked the resident cat. I thought about all the old houses that are still around in some of the small towns around Calgary. I put together a black cat, a grumpy ghost and an old house in the foothills of Calgary, and the story fell into place.
 
5.  What kind of books do you enjoy reading?

I read a variety of books, but I really enjoy science fiction and historical fiction. While I dont read much in the paranormal genre, I do love a good ghost story.
 
‘Not so normal’ Question Spot:
1.  If you could invite any 5 people (i.e. cartoon character; famous person; rock band; poet; artist; living or dead) for a meal together, who would they be?

Wow, I have a huge list, actually! However, Id start with these five incredible authors: Ursula Le Guin, Margaret Atwood, J.K. Rowling, Ann Rice and Diana Gabaldon.
 
2.  Would you rather encounter an alien or a ghost? 

A Ghost. It would be nice to get some irrefutable evidence, and maybe ask some historical questions. Ill leave the aliens to the Men in Black.
 
3.  Would you rather have the ability to read minds or see into the future? 

Read minds. It would be more immediately useful. There are many days when Im fairly certain that I dont care to see into the future.

Awesome answers! I love your inspiration story. Thanks for sharing it with us. And for those who want to avoid buying a house with a ghost in it you can ask your realtor if your house is ghost free. Yes people, it’s a thing.

YOU CAN FIND JUDITH AT:
Facebook -> https://www.facebook.com/JEDocken/
Twitter -> https://twitter.com/JudithDocken
Pinterest -> https://www.pinterest.com/jedocken/
Instagram -> https://www.instagram.com/jedocken/

LET'S GENERATE A BUZZ! Authors, artists and poets if you would like to be a BUZZ GUEST on ‘FAE AND WITCHES AND GHOSTS—OH MY!’ please DM me on Twitter https://twitter.com/kay_latour or on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/kaylatour/


#Ghosted #supernatural #paranormal #ghosts #hauntedhouse #ghosttales #ghoststory #ghost #haunted #hauntednovel #writers #supernaturalphenomenon #urbanfantasy #fantasy #writing #book #bookworm #novel #novels #indieauthors #amwriting #amreading #mystery

Cathy has taken the time to answer some 'normal' questions and 'not so normal' fun questions for us.

1. What is the name of your book?

My recent release is The Pirate’s Bride
 
2. What is it about?

It’s a pirate romance, set in the Caribbean and New Orleans. After a disastrous Coming Out season, Sophie Bellard wants nothing to do with men. She’d rather sail the oceans like her pirate father before her. Instead, she is married off to the most powerful, most arrogant pirate in all the pirate kingdom. This book follows their clashes, and their rocky road to love. It’s punctuated with lively dialogue, realistic shipboard descriptions, and steamy love scenes.
 
3. Where did this book first appear?

It first appeared on Wattpad, an online writing site that I belong to. The book won first place in their up-and-coming historical romance category back in 2012, and eventually gathered 1.3 million reads.
 
4. Were there any technical issues that arose from having different languages?

Oh, yes! I know some Spanish, but I don’t know French at all! Readers were always correcting me, until I put out a request for help. A reader in France came to the rescue.
 
5. What was the inspiration for this novel?

The last movie of the POTC franchise. I really thought Capt. Jack should get his HEA, so I started to write a story. It quickly turned into something completely different.

'Not so normal' Question Spot

1. If you were a pirate what would your name be?

Probably Cathy the Relentless, because when I put my mind to something I don’t give up. (My husband might call me Chatty Cathy, though)
 
2. What is the name of your pirate ship?

The Queen of the Sea
 
3. Where would you like to sail to and during what time period?

I’d have to sail now. I like my creature comforts. As for where? Maybe along the western coast of Mexico. I’ve never been, and I’ve heard they have amazing beaches. Or, I would sail north, towards, British Columbia.
 
4. As a pirate, what would you wear?

I’d have to wear capris. They are nice and loose. Sneakers, for traction. And layered shirts: short sleeve, with a jacket or two. And a really gorgeous, feathered hat, like Sophie in The Pirate’s Bride.
 
5. What does a pirate eat for breakfast?

Well, since I don’t want scurvy, I’d eat oranges and pineapples. I would love scrambled eggs and bacon, or pancakes, but I would think the rocking of a ship might make those a challenge, ha ha. And, of course, a pot of hot tea, steeped just the right amount of time!


Wow! Sailing on The Queen of the Sea, sounds like a vacation dream come true. Thank you, Cathy, for sharing with us today.

YOU CAN FIND CATHY AT:
Twitter -> https://twitter.com/cskendrovich
Facebook -> https://www.facebook.com/Cathy-Skendrovich-249667925220631/
Website -> http://www.cathyskendrovich.com/

Goodreads -> https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/14232546.Cathy_Skendrovich
Instagram -> https://www.instagram.com/cathyskendrovich/

LET'S GENERATE A BUZZ! Authors, artists and poets if you would like to be a BUZZ GUEST on ‘FAE AND WITCHES AND GHOSTS—OH MY!’ please DM me on Twitter https://twitter.com/kay_latour or on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/kaylatour/