Ghosts

Do you believe in ghosts?

I don't know how to answer that one. I'm not sure yet.

But the whole concept fascinates me. I'm not scared of ghosts so much although I may be if I see one, but I just wonder why a spirit would hover around and haunt. What is it up to? That's if they are real. One of the series I'm into at the moment is Ghost Whisperer. I love the concept of the main character helping the dead people find closure or healing so that they are ready to move onto the next life. A series I've been reading by Joya Fields features ghosts and a similar concept - that they don't feel ready to move on yet. It just calls for fascinating reading. You can find it here: Hauntings at Inner Harbor Series

I've also been reading a few physic  / non-fiction books. I'm a total sceptic, but I love reading about people's real-life experiences with ghosts. I don't think I could handle seeing them myself, but I think it's interesting reading about other people's happenings.

Anyway, I had to bring ghosts into one of my books. It's a new release which came out a couple of weeks ago. The blurb doesn't mention a ghost, but as you read on, you will discover the ghost at play in the story.

Romance Writer in Training...

Joanie wants to get her romances published but can't seem to get things right with her writing. She buys an antique bureau which the shopkeeper says has magic working through it. While using her new bureau, she begins to talk to the hero in her book, asking his advice on writing, all the while thinking it's her own imagination. She promises he can live in her home, eat at her table and sleep in her bed, if he helps her with her writing. She doesn't think he will actually knock on her door and insist she keep her promise.

He's made a wish...

Theo has also bought a magic chest of drawers that brings him into Joanie's life. He wants to settle down with one woman, tired of shallow relationships, and Joanie seems like the perfect candidate if it weren't for her insistence on getting rid of him.

Against her will...

The magic keeps on forcing them to live together and Joanie's not happy. This is her first year alone and she's been craving time to herself after looking after her younger siblings and an ailing aunt. Theo's presence in her home, although unwanted, stirs up needs she's suppressed for years. When they start to discover things about the magic and why it's bringing them together, will Joanie recognize another type of magic at work? Will she succumb to the charm of Theo or will her need for breathing space pull them apart?



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Welcome to Otherworld

Welcome to Otherworld! I hope you’ll join me on my journey into this mystical realm.

I’m fascinated by the ancient Celtic idea of an ‘otherworld’ that is situated, not in some distant, unknown region of planetary space, but here on our own earth just out of sight and within our grasp…if we really believe in it and want it enough. 

Frequently, in faerie-lore, Otherworld was a subterranean world entered through caverns, hills, or mountains, and inhabited by many races and orders of beings, such as demons, shades, faeries, and gods. This magical world was divided into districts or kingdoms each with its own ruler, just like the world of mortals. 

Sometimes, the Celtic Otherworld was located in the middle of the Western Ocean, as though it were the 'double' of the lost Atlantis. Faerie women came from that mid-Atlantic world in magic boats like spirit boats, to charm away mortal men, or else to take King Arthur when he was wounded unto death. And on that island world there was neither death, nor pain nor suffering. Instead there was only immortal and unfading youth, endless joy and feasting.

Alternatively, at rare intervals, like a phantom, Otherworld appears far out on the Atlantic. As late as the summer of 1908 it is said to have been seen from West Ireland. Or a strange invisible island, inhabited by invisible, faerie gentry, is seen once every seven years near Innishmurray. 

I believe the truth is simpler and yet more complex. Otherworld exists everywhere. It is right here, alongside our mortal realm, just out of sight but easily within reach. All we need is a belief in its existence and a desire to go there.

The Otherworld in my forthcoming series for Harlequin Nocturne is a beautiful place inhabited by many races, including faeries, vampires, lycanthropes, phantoms and gods. Unfortunately, the constant battles between these warring dynasties threaten to spill over into the mortal realm.

I'd love to know what you think! Do you believe in Otherworld? Let me know:

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Reader-Author Relationship in the busy Paranormal Romance genre. Any suggestions?

I recently got a message from a reader asking me if I dropped off the face of the planet. My answer: Almost. Between changing 3 countries and 5 rents in the last 9 months and trying to keep up with day job and writing (not to mention being a bridesmaid for my sister), yeah, I sometimes felt more dead that alive. And never more alive. Life is weird.

I'm sorry to say I neglected most of my accounts (except Facebook. Who can neglect Facebook, she's a demanding mistress!) and didn't participate as much as I did before But, but, but. I didn't neglect writing. Mostly. Readers understand how life happens when you're not looking. They just don't like it at all. I know this as when I'm waiting for an author's release I'm a maniac myself.

So off to this post's subject (besides the advertising part that I'll get to towards the end):

How to maintain your readers interested when you're not releasing anything new for a while? And I would love some readers' opinions on this. As authors, we all use different strategies to keep you all from getting bored with us (and with waiting). Yes, this post is not really paranormal related. Mmmm, though it can be considered that, as maintaining a fan base while not writing can be considered Scifi. Lol.

In writing paranormal romance it's even more difficult to maintain a relationship with your readers.  One, there are tons of books released everyday. Two, there are tons of new authors appearing everyday. Paranormal romance is an expanding genre, probably because more and more of us are looking for an escape from reality and what would be better than an alternative reality where anything can be possible ?(well, not all in a book, but in paranormal genre-yes.)

Social media helps- and doesn't. You practically need an army of minions to maintain contact and keep all your accounts running and entertaining visitors. Not really feasible for a starving author that works 10 h/day to earn the rent and afford continuing to write (When? At night of course! Who needs sleep? We'll sleep when we're dead. ) So, you have a scarce social presence, a release once in a while and an obsession towards writing and all paranormal stuff. Any suggestions?

BTW, this is the advertising part of this post. I magicked myself a clone(or just didn't sleep) and I'm happy to announce a new release next week! 

Book 4 is out! What Book 4, you say? Return of the Originals, Drakon's Angel is ready for preorder already, hehhehehe. Check my blog for details to a giveaway I have running  wordpress or weebly. Until next time!

And here's some visual teasing:

Drakon's Angel