That Spooky Time of Year~

Of all the holidays, I think Halloween is my very favorite. I love the magical, fantastical element of it. I love ghost stories, spooky Gothic tales, and even the odd paranormal romance here and there. It's no surprise the first book I wrote begins in October, just before Halloween. I think I might have started writing it at that time of year too. Fall is an inspiring time to me. It's a time of change - the leaves on the trees change color, the nights grow cooler, and the sky becomes gloomy, foreshadowing the shorter days to come. The long winter's night is coming.

I thought I'd take this opportunity to share some of my favorite spooky books with you. I'm not crazy about horror, but I do love me some creepy suspense. If you need any reading recommendations this Halloween, pull up a chair.

One of my all time favorites is Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte. If you aren't familiar with it, it's the story of a young woman who's hired as a governess and goes to live and work in an old mansion called Thornfield. Thornfield is creepy. Her boss, Mr. Rochester, is creepy. His secret in the attic is even creepier, but Jane is absolutely fearless. She's a fabulous character.

I recently read Who R U Really? by Margo Kelly about a girl who faces an Internet stalker. It gave me the creeps so bad I almost had to put it down. Stalkers are a special kind of awful. Yikes!

Another book I've read within the last year is Fingers in the Mist by O'dell Hutchison about a girl who goes to live with her dad and finds herself in a creepsville cult. Thanks a lot, Dad!! You could have warned her. Geesh!

Another author who seems to have a special brand of creepy is Neil Gaiman. Try The Graveyard Book about a boy raised by ghosts in a cemetery. It's a beautiful little story. That and The Ocean at the End of the Lane have a wonderful, fantastical element I love reading. Not terrifying, but weird, scary, and even touching in a fun way. Gaiman is simply enchanting.

For a creature feature, I recommend The Golem and the Jinni by Helene Wecker. These aren't your usual vampire/werewolf type monsters and they aren't out to kill everyone, but they are supernatural beings in trouble. I bet you never read a book about either, have you? Put two star-crossed, supernatural creatures together in turn of the century New York City, and what's not to like? It's a unique tale with a wonderful historical flavor.

So there's a few options for your spooky reading enjoyment. Grab a warm, fuzzy throw blanket, your favorite hot beverage, a great book, and enjoy your Halloween!

Spooky Story for Halloween~

In celebration of the upcoming All Hallow's Eve, I thought I'd share an excerpt from my newest paranormal novella The Color of Water. Set on the North Carolina coast, it's the story of Samantha who loses her dad at sea and finds herself trying to protect her mom from a supernatural beast most everyone else believes is a real human. Enjoy~



~from Chapter 8~



On the sidewalk in front of us, a man leaned on an iron fence, half hidden in a bougainvillea vine. I smelled him before I could really see him, a weird mix of pipe smoke and alcohol and something salty like seaweed. The silky voice told me who it was before he leaned forward into the light of a nearby house.

“Pardon me, miss. Didn’t mean to frighten you,” he said, reaching out two nut brown hands to Karla. As Teach caught her hands in his own, I saw a tattoo on his forearm in the moonlight – a blue demon stabbing a heart across his rippling muscle. He gently steadied Karla, ignoring me.

“It’s fine,” Karla said. “I should watch where I’m going.”

Teach stood there, holding onto Karla’s hands, staring deep into her eyes like a lover. No one was allowed to look at my mom like that, not while I was standing there.

“Do you mind taking your paws off my mother?” I said, forgetting any warning Matt might have given me.

“I’m only trying to help,” he said, releasing her finally. “Perhaps I can make it up to you?”

“No really, its fine,” insisted Karla, trying to move past him. He caught her by the shoulders, holding her close to him.

“Can I see you again?” he begged in an urgent whisper.

“Let her go, you creep!” I yelled.

“A little something to remember me by,” he purred in her ear, a chunky gold bracelet emerging from his jacket pocket draped across his thick fingers. I was sure it was the exact same bracelet I pitched in the ocean weeks ago. He moved to lay it over her wrist. Without thinking, I snatched it away.

“Run Karla!” I yelled as I pushed my mom’s shoulder. She took off toward home as Teach turned his eyes to me. Even in the dim moonlight, I could see his crazy eyes, aqua blue like some stormy Caribbean Sea.

“Give it back, Samantha,” he said like a parent to a naughty child, patient but annoyed.

“How do you know my name?” I stalled.

“I know many things about you. I know you foolishly meddle in things you know nothing about, for instance,” he said, moving toward me, his eyes locked on mine. His words stung me.

“What is this thing?” I said, holding up the chain. If it wasn’t Louise’s bracelet, it was just like it. “Do you give it all the women you plan to kill?”

Teach laughed, a low chuckle, still coming toward me as I backed away, stumbling over the cracked sidewalk into the street.

“You might say that,” he admitted. “But I don’t give it to anyone who doesn’t welcome it.”

“Who welcomes death?”

“You’re young. I wouldn’t expect you to understand. Now give it to me,” his tone growing more insistent. I held the bracelet behind my back.

“Not until you promise to leave my mother alone,” I said, my voice quivering like a leaf in the wind. The energy radiating off Teach now burned my skin, like standing too close to an open fire.

“I don’t make bargains with little girls. What’s mine is mine,” he snarled, his skin tightening over his skull and then evaporating to reveal the bones underneath. His blue eyes burned like coals in the darkness, inhuman and unnatural. The heat felt like it would scorch my eyebrows off. I fell as he swung at me, screaming.

Happy Halloween!!

The Minotaur Blog Tour

Welcome my stop on the Minotaur Blog Tour! Be sure to scroll down and read the author's guest post about what inspired him to write the book.

~ABOUT MINOTAUR~

Minotaur by Phillip W. Simpson

Publication Date: September 29, 2015

Publisher: Month9Books


“Where shall I start?” asked Minotaur.

Ovid made an expansive gesture with both hands. “Where else but the beginning of course.”

Minotaur nodded his huge head. “Yes,” he said. “Yes,” his eyes already glazing over with the weight of thousand year old memories. And then he began.

So begins the story of Asterion, later known as Minotaur, the supposed half bull creature of Greek legend. Recorded by the famous Roman poet, Ovid, Asterion tells of his boyhood in Crete under the cruel hand of his stepfather Minos, his adventures with his friend, Theseus, and his growing love for the beautiful Phaedra.And of course what really happened in the labyrinth.

This is the true story of the Minotaur.

~ABOUT PHILLIP W. SIMPSON~

Phillip W. Simpson is the author of many novels, chapter books and other stories for children. His publishers include Macmillan, Penguin, Pearson, Cengage, Raintree and Oxford University Press.

He received both his undergraduate degree in Ancient History and Archaeology and his Masters (Hons) degree in Archaeology from the University of Auckland.

Before embarking on his writing career, he joined the army as an officer cadet, owned a comic shop and worked in recruitment in both the UK and Australia.

His first young adult novel, Rapture (Rapture Trilogy #1), was shortlisted for the Sir Julius Vogel Awards for best Youth novel in 2012.

He is represented by Vicki Marsdon at Wordlink literary agency.

When not writing, he works as a school teacher.

Phillip lives and writes in Auckland, New Zealand with his wife Rose, their son, Jack and their two border terriers, Whiskey and Raffles. He loves fishing, reading, movies, football (soccer) and single malt Whiskeys.

Connect with the Author: Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads


a Rafflecopter giveaway

Giveaway Information: Contest ends October 23, 2015
- Five (5) winners will receive a digital copy of Minotaur by Phillip W. Simpson (INT)

~Author Guest Post~

I’ve always been fascinated by monsters, an interest and love nurtured by countless books on myth and legend. My focus was always ancient Greece and in particular, their monsters.

History (or ancient history) is written by the victors. The story of Theseus and the Minotaur was disseminated by the Athenians who were the most powerful city state in Greece after the fall of Crete. Why then wouldn’t they paint their hero Theseus in the best possible light and the Minotaur as some horrible monster?

My latest YA historical novel, Minotaur, is a reimagining of the ancient myth. Did the Minotaur exist? If so, was he the monster that the myths insist he was? I like stories about underdogs, particularly ones from their perspective and this is Asterion’s (Minotaur’s story) told in first person perspective to the Roman historian, Ovid.

In terms of my journey as a writer, I submitted stories to magazines when I was a boy but never got anywhere. My teachers always thought I’d do something writing related as I was such an avid reader and did pretty well in the subject.

I completed a BA in Ancient History and Archaeology and an MA in Archaeology. I joined the army as an officer cadet. I then completed a Post Graduate Diploma in Museum Studies. I worked as a curator and archaeologist before travelling overseas. I fell into the I.T and banking recruitment sector in London and then Australia. It was when I was in Australia that I started writing fiction 15 years ago.

I was in my late 20’s then. I travelled a lot and used to email my escapades back to my friends. A few of these friends told me I should write a novel. I did just that, hiring a cabin in the woods (Wollombi, Australia) from my brother. But the novel (adult sci-fi) wasn’t very good.

I then completed a Post Graduate Diploma in Teaching and have been teaching for 13 years now. I started writing kid’s fiction to be used in schools. The publishers I work for like the fact that I’m a teacher and writer. It’s also good practice for writing novels.

I’ve had over fifty chapter books and four young adult novels published. My first young adult novel, Rapture (Rapture Trilogy #1), was shortlisted for the Sir Julius Vogel Awards for best Youth novel in 2012. Minotaur is actually my sixth novel. At the writing of this, I have just completed my eighth novel as part of my Masters in Creative Writing. This one is also a Young Adult novel based on Greek myth.

The Fact behind the Fiction of The Color of Water

Everyone's heard of Blackbeard, right? The terrible pirate? Hollywood staple pirate character? But did you know that Blackbeard was a real person named Edward Teach? I remember as a kid thinking he was just a cartoon-ish character and being amazed to learn he was real. You can read all about him on Wikipedia.  Born in 1680, he only lived to be about 35 or 40 years old because he was finally captured and beheaded in 1718. Perhaps because it was so long ago, he's become the stuff of legends? Even his flag is kinda creepy.

The ghost of Blackbeard is the main baddie in my new novella The Color of Water. He was such delicious fun to write, re-imagined as a modern day biker. Here's a sneak peek of my heroine, Samantha, unexpectedly seeing Blackbeard, aka Teach, on the streets of Beaufort ~


    The summer sun was still hot enough to make me sweat, but it was cooling down as the shadows got longer. The rain had left steamy puddles along the sidewalks, but the sky was clearing just like Matt said it would. Seeing nothing unusual at the Queen Ann’s, I kept walking, turning down an alley to avoid all the tourists on Front Street. That’s where I saw them – a man and a woman having a hella fight in the alley. My heart jumped up into my throat when I realized it was Harley man – Teach.

    I ducked behind a dumpster and tried to blend into the back of a building. It didn’t seem to matter to Teach and his lady friend because their screaming argument suddenly dissolved into a groping, kissing thing. I couldn’t stop staring at them. Teach’s beefy, tattooed arms wrapped the woman like an octopus’s tentacles, his fingers snaking through her God-awful, red-orange dye job. She didn’t seem to mind. She kissed him like she was starving and he was a steak dinner. After coming up for air, they stumbled back inside the building.

    I saw the door was printed with ‘No one under 21 admitted’ as I hurried past. If he was going to kill her, he would have done it right there, wouldn’t he? I resolved not to tell Matt about it, since he obviously didn’t want me anywhere near Teach. I didn’t want to risk making him mad again. I picked up my pace, running a few blocks so I wouldn’t be late.

You can find The Color of Water in print and ebook on Amazon and Goodreads! Enjoy~

YA Scavenger Hunt Strikes again! #YASH

Hey! Welcome to my stop on the YA Scavenger Hunt Trail!

This bi-annual event was first organized by author Colleen Houck as a way to give readers a chance to gain access to exclusive bonus material from their favorite authors…and a chance to win some awesome prizes! At this hunt, you not only get access to exclusive content from each author, you also get a clue for the hunt. Add up the clues, and you can enter for our prize–one lucky winner will receive one signed book from each author on the hunt in my team! But play fast: this contest (and all the exclusive bonus material) will only be online for 72 hours!

Go to the YA Scavenger Hunt page to find out all about the hunt. There are EIGHT contests going on simultaneously, and you can enter one or all! I am a part of the TEAM PINK–but there is also a red team, a gold team, an orange team, a teal team, a purple team, a green team, and a blue team for a chance to win a whole different set of signed books!

If you’d like to find out more about the hunt, see links to all the authors participating, and see the full list of prizes up for grabs, go to the YA Scavenger Hunt page.

***THE SCAVENGER HUNT FINE PRINT***

Directions: Below, you’ll notice that I’ve listed my favorite number. Collect the favorite numbers of all the authors on the indie team, and then add them up (don’t worry, you can use a calculator!).

Entry Form: Once you’ve added up all the numbers, make sure you fill out the form here to officially qualify for the grand prize. Only entries that have the correct number will qualify.

Rules: Open internationally, anyone below the age of 18 should have a parent or guardian’s permission to enter. To be eligible for the grand prize, you must submit the completed entry form by October 4, at noon Pacific Time. Entries sent without the correct number or without contact information will not be considered.

LET THE HUNT BEGIN!

~MEET KELSEY KETCH, AUTHOR OF NAME OF RA~

During her high school years, Kelsey Ketch could always be found tucked away in a little corner of the hall or classroom, writing her fantasy worlds and creating illustrations and maps. Today is no different, except now she’s writing in the break room at her office building or at the tables of the Barnes and Noble Café in Cary, North Carolina. She is also an avid reader, a part-time book blogger at Ketch’s Book Nook, and lives with her two orange tabbies and awesome and humorous flat-mate. Daughter of Isis is her debut novel.

For more information, please visit her site at kelseyketch.com.

~ABOUT NAME OF RA~

“Set has risen.”

After being on the run from a psychotic cult for a week, Natara “Natti” Stone has finally come to realize she and Seth are the only two people standing between the Sons of Set and the secret name of Ra. Holding a part of the key that unlocks Ra’s power, they relocate to a more isolated location in the California mountains. While laying low, Natti becomes even more determined to understand her mother’s bloodline and her blessing from the goddess, Isis. But when she starts seeing the truth behind her destiny, she begins to doubt her role in the events that are about to unfold.

Then the unthinkable happens . . .

All Seth O’Keefe wanted was to get Natti as far away from his father and the Sons of Set as possible. Unfortunately, after hearing of Natti’s destiny from Isis’s own lips, he realizes they have bigger issues to worry about. Especially when one stupid slip up leads the god of chaos himself straight to their doorstep. Now Natti is the god’s prisoner, and Set holds the key to unlocking the location of the secret name of Ra. Can Seth save Natti from her own destiny and thwart the demented god’s rise to power?

*Note: Content for Upper YA*

~DAUGHTER OF ISIS~

Start the series with DAUGHTER OF ISIS, only 99 cents!

AMAZON

~SNEAK PEEK~

Seth flexed his stiff fingers from their white-knuckle grip on the steering wheel. He couldn’t believe he didn’t think of this before. He had been so focused on getting Natti out of California—and out of the country—that he didn’t think to hide right under his father’s nose. Best of all, the cabin would provide everything they need, including a place to train. Perfect, per Natti’s latest request. Though honestly, he wasn’t exactly happy with the agreement. It might be selfish, but he wanted to be the one she turned to for protection. He wanted to be her savior. It was her touch that changed his mind, enveloping him in the cold hard truth of their situation.

The same thing had occurred before, back in the Death Valley tomb. Back when she was putting her life in danger, and in his rage, he threatened to wipe her memory if she didn’t obey. A stupid threat made when his temper and beast were unhinged. He was now thankful her touch had saved her from his rage. That it forced him to see what was meant to be. It prevented him from making the biggest mistake of his life.

Glancing at his mother’s ankh, Seth’s thoughts turned over to the other three women he failed in the past couple of weeks. None of them had a chance against his father’s power. He had no control over his mother’s death. Mandy’s fate had been helped along by his charm, ripening her mind for the taking. And then there was Ashley, a lamb Seth had unknowingly led to the slaughter. His grip tightened even more on the steering wheel. If teaching Natti how to defend herself meant the difference between life and death, then there was no reason to argue the point. Besides, it might actually be fun making her work her pretty little butt off for a change.

He glanced over at Natti, a mischievous smile twitching at the corners of his lips. She was studying the flail for the eighth time during the seven-hour drive from Nevada. Her slender fingers gently tracing the few lines of hieroglyphics carved into the staff. That intense focus and the twinkle in her eye when she lost herself to the magic and mystery of the ancient symbols were just two of the things he loved about her.

“Would you put that down for a minute?” Seth half-laughed, taking the flail from her—which felt oddly warm to the touch—and placing it in the back seat with the one bag of groceries they’d picked up on the way. Just the basics: bread, milk, butter, eggs, tea . . . The cabin would be stocked up with any other shelf food and drinks they might need. “You’ve been staring at it on and off for most of the trip.”

Natti offered him a weak smile. “Sorry. I’m kind of dying to know what it says. After everything that happened, I’m curious where Ra’s secret name might be hidden.”

Seth flinched and grimaced in guilt. He hadn’t told her about the prophecy. That she was destined to be the one to carry the power of Ra, and there were two completely divergent paths her life could go in: to either destroy Set or rule by his side. Neither were exactly what Seth wanted for her. He wanted to create a third path. One where she was entirely his. No gods. No flail. No secret name. Just him and Natti, on the road and on the run.

“I promise I’ll translate it once we’re settled in.”

“And where is it exactly that you’re taking me?” She glanced around at the changing landscape.

Seth looked out the window, taking in the barren mountains, bush-like vegetation, and a few palm trees. Almost every single house was visible from the road. The ones that weren’t, lay beyond a long, hidden driveway surrounded by thick bush-like trees.

“A place called Springville,” he replied. “There’s a cabin just outside of town.”

Natti’s tension instantly relaxed. “And Sean won’t find for us there?”

Seth shrugged. “My father never took an interest in where I went or what I did, unless it interfered with my training. He never asked, I never told.”

Natti’s eyes were filled with pity when they flashed his way. Honestly, she shouldn’t bother. She came from a caring family filled with love and concern. And sure, even some of the Sons actually took an interest in their kids’ lives, like Jacob with Q and Mikael with Ky. But in general, the Sons only cared about themselves.

That was just his life.

Add up all the favorite numbers of the authors on Team Pink and you’ll have the secret code to enter for the grand prize! I've always been pretty good at keeping secrets.
I could probably tell you 8 secrets right now. ;)

~CONTINUE THE HUNT~

To keep going on your quest for the hunt, you need to check out the next author!

Welcome to my stop on the Black Beauty Tour

Black Beauty

by Constance Burris

ISBN: 978-1515275893, 1515275892
Publisher: Self-Published
Pages: 182
Genre: YA/Fantasy/Horror

~About the Book~

At Vista Apartment Complex, life drastically changes for four of its residents when they decide to do business with Crazy Jade—the supposed voodoo witch who can grant your wish for a price.

Shemeya wants the confidence to stand up against the girls bullying her at school, but she soon has to choose between keeping her dreadlocs or living a normal life. After catching her boyfriend cheating, Latreece just wants to have the same curves as all the other girls. Ashley will do whatever she can to have “White Girl Flow”, but takes her pursuit too far when she steals from Crazy Jade.

Everyone who comes into contact with Crazy Jade soon learns the true price of her magic—and how horribly wrong it can go.

~Find Black Beauty Online~

Amazon: Purchase Link

Itunes: Purchase Link

Barnes & Noble: Purchase Link

Goodreads: Connect about it on Goodreads!

Book Depository: Pick up internationally!

~About the Author~ 

Constance Burris is on a journey to take over the world through fantasy, horror, and science fiction. Her mission is to spread the love of speculative fiction to the masses. She is a proud blerd (black nerd), mother, and wife. When she is not writing and spending time with her family, she is working hard as an environmental engineer in Oklahoma City.
Author Links

Website: Official Blog

Facebook: Constance Burris

Twitter: @constanceburris

Goodreads: Author Profile

Amazon: Author Profile



There is a tour wide giveaway for the book tour of Black Beauty. These are the prizes you can win:

- One of Two $10 Amazon Gift Cards(US) or One of Two ecopies of Black Beauty.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

~Author Guest Post~

Black Beauty’s Beauty Issues

Black Beauty is a weird name for an urban fantasy. I probably should have thought harder on the title. But the title came to me before the story did. Through Black Beauty, I wanted to write a series of stories that explored black beauty standards. Because I'm a spec fic author it had to fantastical, and because I'm twisted, it had be horrific.

Below are Four issues horrified and fantasized in Black Beauty:

Natural Hair (Shemeya)

I don't think this is as bad as it used to be, but once the natural hair exploded (again) some of the relaxed ladies felt like the natural hair ladies were looking down on them. But I wanted to point out… that just cause you relax your hair, it doesn't mean you don't love yourself. And just because someone has natural hair, it doesn't mean they are not vain as hell.

Interracial Relationships (Andre)

Real talk. Back in my single days when I was like 'woe is me I can't find no man', I resented the brothas who seemed to jump over sistas real quick for pale-skinned women. But I got over that isht. Love is love no matter what skin colors involved. Through Black Beauty and Andre's story, I was able to explore interracial relationships.

FYI, I actually heard a young brother say that he thought "black girl look like cockroaches."

Good Hair (Ashley)

I was home one random day watching the Tyra Banks Show, and they were doing the mandatory good hair show. There was a girl on there who's goal in life was to have White Girl Flow. The term alone screams self-hatred. But is the pursuit to have straight hair a racial issue or beauty issue?

If you're black and you live in an area where most everyone is trying to have straight hair, does it mean you're trying to be white or trying to fit in?

Real Women have Curves and Lines (Latreece)

I'm dark and a little on the chubby side. My daughter is light and thin. I always thought skinny yella girls had it easy. But seeing my daughter struggle with the same issues I had growing up, let me see that yella aint betta and skinny isn't all it's cracked up to be. They have the same insecurities.

What do you think? How did you cope with good hair vs natural hair, curvy girls vs skinny girls, would you cut your hair to live a normal life?