Review: Fractured by Majanka Verstraete

Everyone has their thing- that thing they know better than to read about- that thing that climbs into the back of their mind and puts down roots nestled between the unshakable ear worms and the irrational fears. That thing that not only causes one to shudder in broad daylight, but that inescapably keeps popping up in he most casual of circumstances. For some people it's a thinly veiled fear of heights that rears its unwelcome head on escalators or when looking out an office window, for me, it's mirrors.
As a result, Majanka Verstrate's debut novel about Piper, a young girl who finds a special mirror in the attic of her mother's latest restoration project, has stuck with me long after finishing.

A modern YA ghost story reminiscent of Niffenegger's Her Fearful Symmetry, Fractured, the first book in the Mirrorland series explores friendship, responsibility, loss, and guilt as Piper finds herself haunted not only by her new found mirror, but also the past she's repressed. Built around a tight cast of characters and with attention to the real-life complications with which Verstraete's audience will connect, Fractured is a quick paced read, despite it's atmospheric nature. Even though it gave me the heebie-jeebies,or maybe because it gave me the heebie-jeebies, I enjoyed it.

Cover Reveal: Deadly Gamble by Shirley Kennedy

We're proud to be a part of author Shirley Kennedy's cover reveal for her paranormal thriller, DEADLY GAMBLE, released by Inkspell Publishing. Here's what the story is about:

Deadly Gamble

When attractive Kristi Andrews is hired as Assistant Marketing Director at the Parthenon hotel/casino in Las Vegas, she’s focused on succeeding at her new job. But from the very first day, strange events occur:  a deadly escalator accident—the strange death of a candle shop owner—a psychic’s warning that the Parthenon is doomed AND IT’S ALL KRISTI’S FAULT.

Shocked and  baffled, Kristi must determine if she could be responsible for the mysterious, evil presence that seems to haunt the hotel. She’s aided by a man she’s just met—famous western historical author, Mike Garvey. Attracted to Kristi, Mike goes one hundred fifty years back in time to draw upon his knowledge of old Las Vegas and the Santa Fe Trail. They are the key to a puzzling mystery which Kristi must solve if she wants to save not only the Parthenon but the entire Las Vegas Strip from total disaster.

About the Author:

Shirley Kennedy wrote and published Regency romances for several years for both Ballantine and Signet.  She switched genres to write a wagon train romance. When struck with what she called “a great idea” about a haunted casino in Las Vegas, she was compelled to abandon both  Regency England and the Old West to write Deadly Gamble.

Born and raised in Fresno, California, Shirley has lived in such diverse places as Denver; Houston; Torrance, California; Bogota ,Colombia; and Calgary, Alberta, Canada where she received a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Sciences at the University of Calgary.  She worked as a computer programmer/systems analyst for several years before she went back to her first love, writing.  

Shirley lives close to her two daughters in Las Vegas Nevada. Brutus and Sparky, her two editorial assistants on the furry side, love to nap in the sunshine next to her computer while she produces her next novel.

See Shirley’s web site at www.shirleykennedy.com

Her published books include:

Heartbreak Trail, Camel Press  

Three Wishes for Miss Winthrop,  Signet

Lady Flora's Fantasy, Signet

The Irish Upstart,  Signet

The Selfless Sister,  Signet

The Rebellious Twin, Signet

The London Belle, Signet

Lady Semple's Secret,  Ballantine

Interview with R Kyle Hannah

Happy Weekend,everyone! Today we're chatting with the author of TIME ASSASSINS.

Welcome to We Do Write! Tell us a bit about yourself.

My name is Kyle Hannah, I am married, with two kids and I have been in the Army for almost 27 years.

How long have you been writing?

I started writing short stories in high school. I was bored in most of myclasses and this seemed a much better way to occupy my time than getting in trouble and being sent to the office.

Tell us about TIME ASSASSINS. What's the story about?

A future Assassin's Guild has developed time travel and they send their agents back to "tweak" history. In TIME ASSASSINS, you'll visit the Magna Carta, Hitler's Conference Room, JFK's trip to Dallas, and even Lincoln's visit to FOrd's Theater. Rick Brewer is a banished Apprentice who is stranded in time and using his knowledge to upset the timeline. Plus, you'll see a current day mission that changes the world. And at the center of it all, a young Apprentice just starting his career.

How did the idea of the story come to you?

I came up with the idea after talking with some high schools and 20 somethings--I discovered there is a distinct lack of knowledge when it comes to history. I wanted to come up with a fun way to accidentally learn something...enter TIME ASSASSINS.

Do you have a critique group/partner or beta readers, or do you self-edit?

Actually, I did both. After I wrote it, I did two edits on it myself. I had a few friends read it, then hired an editor. That editor turned it over to Dark Dragon Publishing who picked it up. After that, another three rounds of editing...

Are you a planner or a pantser?

Well, I start off planning it...but once the writing starts, it usually takes on a life of its own. The general premise will remain the same, but the details always change.

What's the hardest part of writing for you?

Finding the time and the motivation. I have ideas-I have six or seven completed storylines-but I have to be in the mood to write. I cannot just force myself...when I do, I end up just deleting it.

What do you absolutely have to have nearby when writing?

Music. I cannot stand a quiet room; it puts me to sleep. So, a little Journey or other 80s music and I'm just foot tapping while I'm typing. Maybe it's a rhythm thing...

If you could have any super power, what would it be?

Telepathy. Being able to move objects with my mind...that's like using the force. That's just cool.

What's the weirdest thing you've googled?

hmmm. Probably some of the history research I've done for not only TIME ASSASSINS, but also ATLANTIS FALLING, one of my other projects. Dragons, ancient Japan, Bermuda Triangle, and Papal history....all in the same day.

Quick writing test! Use the following words in a sentence: obligatory, oblivion, and obstacles.

It was obligatory, to avoid oblivion, to overcome the obstacles, so said the drill instructor.

Finish this sentence: If I'm not writing, I'm probably ...

Playing a computer game.

Here's the part where you thank the people who are supporting you. Let's hear your shout outs.

Oh, so many. First, my wife and kids for putting up with me. Second, Gene Rowley for not only being a beta reader but also doing the cover for TIME ASSASSINS. Third, my editor, Karen. She really put me through the ringer, but it was worth it! And finally, the fans. After my first novel, TO AID AND PROTECT, I was pretty much ordered to write another book. Maybe that's the motivation I'm waiting on to get really working on the next one. Thank you to everyone who has read my books...I really hope you enjoy them!

And finally, where can people find you and your book online?

TO AID AND PROTECT is available at all the usual places: Amazon, Barnes and Noble, iTunes.

TIME ASSASSINS will also be available at those locations and at darkdragonpublishing.com

Thank you for the opportunity to get my name out there. TIME ASSASSINS will be released in late October and I hope that the readers like it as much as I do. I love to get feedback, so please let me know what you think...and you can follow my further exploits at:

www.rkylehannah.com
www.facebook.com/rkylehannahwriter
www.rkylehannah.blogspot.com
Twitter @rkhannah

Interview with Blue Remy

Today we welcome author Blue Remy to chat about her book FROM HEL, WITH LOVE, published by Sapphire Star Publishing.

Hello, Blue! Tell us a bit about yourself. 

I don't like talking about myself at all. I'm not even sure where to start really. I'm Aquarius, I am the GM of a movie theatre, married for seven years. I happen to be a total WonderWoman geek and comic book nerd. I'm addicted to coffee and cupcakes.

Coffee and Cupcakes, I'm with you there! How long have you been writing?

Since I can remember. I really started focusing on my writing in high school, then I found AOL and Rhy'Din. I started writing there and have been hooked since.

Tell us about FROM HEL, WITH LOVE. What's the story about?

From Hel is really a stepping stone to The XIII Hour series. It is about a character named Raven Aquilus, who is a fallen Valkyrie, or a High Daemon, who runs the Nine Gates of Hell. The guardians that watch the Gates are being killed and she must figure out why. It introduces a plethora of characters and preternatural beings that other books in the series will focus on, though the series still revolves around Raven and her crew. Most of the books are based on faery tales, from the "evil" characters point of view. There is Queen Grimmhilde from Snow White, the big bad wolf from Red Riding Hood, Sheriff of Nottingham and Little John, even Guinevere. Here is the synopsis of From Hel, With Love:

Hel hath no fury like her Raven scorned…

All hell is breaking loose. High Daemon, Raven Aquilus, and her motley crew find out that the guardians of the Nine Gates of Hell are being murdered one by one, landing them in the middle of an ancient war between the Daemons and the Fae.

FBI Paranormal Agent Duncan O’Brien is brought in to investigate the brutal murders, but he is completely blind to the fact that he has landed in a High Daemon’s domain. Time is running out and Raven must enlist Duncan and his team to help discover the killer before she loses another one of her precious Guardians.

Duncan is the epitome of control, but even he is not immune to Raven’s beauty and magnetism. Raven is an enigma wrapped up in the body of lust, and attracted to a human. Both must fight their emotions to work together.

Raven faces losing everything from her life to a new found love in order to save the Underworld from being ruled by a jealous half breed.

Welcome the XIII Hour series. Betrayal, Lust, Love, Murder, Jealousy and Revenge. The faery-tales that your mother never told you about just came true.

How did the idea of the story come to you?

I have been interested in theology since I was in High School, especially myths and legends. My grandmother introduced me to The Brothers Grimm and their faery tales, and I was hooked. My twisted brain came up with the idea of mixing it all and coming up with Raven, then with her back ground, adding history and other goodies... BAM! The XIII Hour was born.

Are you a planner or a pantser?

Yikes, both? Raven is hard to plan. I pen out everything first, then I start transposing it to the computer. Raven is so bipolar and psychotic, it never turns out how I had it planned.

What’s the hardest part of writing for you? 

Honestly? -laughs- Sex scenes. I don't do sexy. I'm a total TomBoy. You should have seen me freaking out when I wrote the scene in From Hell. I sent it to a good friend of mine who writes erotica and when she told me I made her tingle, I know my jaw dropped to the floor. It's the hardest thing ever for me to write.

What do you absolutely have to have nearby when writing?

Coffee.

*craves coffee* *and cupcakes* If you could have any super power, what would it be?

Oh wow, there's totally too many to even contemplate having... Comic book geek, remember?

What's the weirdest thing you've googled?

Uhm, uhh ... You got me there. Everything I google seems normal to me. I google WonderWoman stuff, Living Dead Dolls, I googled tiara's before, since I wanted one. Which I own now, since I'm Sapphire Star's Dark Princess ;-)

Awesome! Quick writing test! Use the following words in a sentence: exhausted, flippant, and flip chart.

Raven is always flippant when she gets exhausted, to the point of taking a flip chart to prop her up on the bar.

LOL! Here’s the part where you thank the people who are supporting you. Let's hear your shout outs.

Sapphire Star, of course. With out them, I wouldn't be here. They saw something in Raven (I think they're scared of her lol) and Amy & Katie for putting up with my kazillion phone calls, Amy Gregory - Because she has put up with so much of my venting with the book, and the fact she actually critiqued some of it and she doesn't read my genre. Charity Parkerson - if it wasn't for her pushing me to get From Hel out there, I never would have approached SSP, she is a huge reason why I'm even exposed. My hubby - He pushes me when I need it, he listens to my ideas and lets me know if they suck or to roll with it, and he tells me all the law enforcement info that I need to cover characters and things I need to research.

And finally, where can people find you and your book online?

sblueremy.com
facebook.com/theblueremy
facebook.com/blues13thhour
facebook.com/quothetheraven
twitter: @blue_remy
blue-remy.blogspot.com
http://www.sapphirestarpublishing.com/fromhelwithlove

Thanks so much for chatting with us today, Blue. Your book sounds amazing, I can't wait to read it!