MY NEW NOVEL IS NOW AVAILABLE

HOORAY...THE BANISHED ONE, BOOK 3 IN THE UNDEPARTED SERIES IS NOW ON AMAZON. PLEASE CHECK IT OUT, HIT THE LIKE BUTTON AND GET READING!

BUY NOW if you're 18+

The Banished One: love, murder, sex and VAMPIRES.

A sleepy little town has a secret: there's a serial killer vampire on the loose.

The lustful and evil Lucius, is still wreaking havoc on the sleepy town in Tower City, and since he's supernatural he can't be captured by normal police procedure.

A frustrated Lieutenant Welby refuses to believe that the one responsible for those dead bodies in his town, is a vampire; that defies logic. There's got to be another explanation for those fang marks in the victims' throats.

Welby remains a staunch disbeliever in vampires until a series of preternatural events and the coroner's scientific evidence causes him to change his mind. Welby then follows the old town rumors right to Quentin, the father of all vampires and his gothic castle to enlist Quentin's supernatural aid in capturing Lucius.

Will Quentin, the only one who can stop Lucius' vampire tirades, help the Lieutenant or make him one of The Undeparted?

Will Quentin battle Lucius and send Lucius to the bowels of hell for eternity, finally ensuring that Cassandra is safe from her old beau? Will the old coal mining town be safe at last?

TWO THINGS R HAPPENING SOON

REMEMBER THIS DATE....DECEMBER 1

because a couple of things will be happening. Actor Jordan Rhodes will be my celebrity guest and there will be

GREAT GIVEAWAYS by awesome authors

AND.....

THE BANISHED ONE, book 3 in THE UNDEPARTED series will be published!

There's love, there's sex, there's murder! This book is for readers 18+

 

A sleepy little town has a secret....Vampires are living amongst them, and one of them is a serial killer vampire.  Lieutenant Welby can't catch the immortal by mortal means, so he follows old town rumors right to the gothic castle on the mountain where suppossedly the father of all vampires, handsome Quentin Castle resides. 

Welby needs Quentin's help, but will Quentin help or transform Welby into one of The Undeparted?

 

AWESOME AUTHOR, Karen Docter

WELCOME KAREN DOCTER TO AWESOME AUTHOR.

Karen has been a real pleasure to know and work with. She has hosted me on her blog before and I'm popping over there again December 7 and in January, and she will without a single doubt, be right back here again.\

Karen Docter writes two different kinds of romance novels....

Books of Danger, Romantic Suspense: Women hunted by killers...men who'd die to protect them.

Books of Heat, Contemporary Romance: The lighter side of romance - Not a killer in sight...unless it's killer heat!
Karen's contemporaries are cute and spicy, romantic comedies. She loves writing about real men and women with dreams and goals that don't allow for a relationship just so she can throw them in each other's path...with a tickle and a smile. 

Karen's romantic suspense novels are also filled with heat, although the dangers the hero and heroine face are intense, usually because a serial killer is bent on ending one or both of their lives before they can fall in love. These are psychological, woman-in-jeopardy stories. "Killing Secrets", the first of her Thorne's Thorns series about six brothers and the women they'd die to protect, will be released January 2013.

"Satin Pleasures", one of her four Romance Writers of America® Golden Heart® Best Short Contemporary finalist novels, debuted on Amazon February 2012.

HERE'S A BLURB FROM THE BOOK THAT IS SURE TO PLEASE YOU: Dan McDonald walked away from the American dream, a life full of money, glamorous women and power. Now nothing can lure him back into the corporate death trap. Except….

Dan’s scheming aunt snares him into opening a lingerie shop in Tess Emory’s shopping mall. Tess is everything Dan has vowed to avoid…sexy, smart, and obsessed with work.

Tess is determined to make her life a success and right the wrongs of her past, no matter the cost.

They’re both going to discover that true love breaks all their rules.

 

 EXCERPT FOR SATIN PLEASURES:
Chapter One
"Colby, if I'd had that brunette in my bass boat instead of you Aunt Mary would never have talked me off the lake." Dan McDonald tore his gaze away from the view in the truck windshield to grin at his dog, affectionately named Colby, after the cheese the German shepherd loved so much. "Bet she doesn't kiss like you...the brunette, I mean, not Aunt Mary."

The dog whined, then attempted to wriggle his massive bulk into his master's lap. Dan pushed his muzzle away. "Phew! Chances are she doesn't smell like you, either."

Colby bared his teeth in a grin.

Dan laughed. "You won't think it's so funny when we reach San Francisco and you get a bath." He considered the stalled traffic. "That's assuming we get across the bay."

A fully loaded semi had jackknifed across both lanes of the westbound bridge and wedged in tighter than a cork in a genie's bottle. The truck was to be dismantled for removal, the freight unloaded, and there appeared to be a debate as to which part of the process should be completed first.

He smiled at the speed with which the shock wave of information ran down the line of commuters. Many spilled from their cars to chat. A few lounged on their hoods, faces raised to the warm March afternoon sun. A pair of students in Stanford jerseys zipped a fluorescent orange Frisbee between the cars with all the ferocity of Kamikaze pilots.

Dan shook his head when he realized he'd pushed his old life behind him far enough to find amusement in the scene. He'd come a long way in the past year. Was it far enough? He'd been happy—well, content enough—with his solitary lifestyle...until his aunt tracked him down in Florida a couple of weeks ago.

She'd convinced him she and his mother needed him in California through June. However, he'd had three thousand miles to wonder if his temporary return to the rat race might prove to be the biggest mistake of his life. His impulse to turn the truck around had grown with each passing mile and he wondered if this traffic snarl was his last chance to save himself.

He certainly couldn't complain about his first glimpse of San Francisco Bay. There wasn't a cloud in the sky. The sun stirred bright color into the murky waves and streaked light across mirrored office buildings on the opposite shoreline. A light, salty breeze gave wing to a variety of raucous sea birds over his head and teased long tendrils of toffee-rich hair out of his brunette's French twist.

His brunette. (GOTTA READ THE BOOK TO FIND OUT WHAT HAPPENS)

 

How about Karen's Catch That Santa available Thanksgiving Day:

" In addition to working on my romantic suspense, I’ve been busily writing a holiday novelette which will release in just two days, on Thanksgiving Day!" Karen

Here's a blurb for Catch That Santa:
When widow, Sara Marks, hears her Grams has gone on the lam from Happy Acres Residence on Christmas Eve – on Santa’s arm, no less -- she teams up with sexy stranger, Francisco de la Vega, to chase the couple down with one thing in mind. Keep her Grams from becoming Mrs. Claus. Of course, Francisco's grandfather is not really Santa Claus, but Grams did run off to Vegas to marry him and she's obviously not in her right mind.

Sara leaves her six month old, Lanie, with a friend and she and Cisco head west in the worst snowstorm in decades, chasing his grandfather's '57 Ford Fairlane over the river and through the woods.

Will they catch Santa and his crazy Mrs. Claus before it's too late? Or will love stop them in their tracks?

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SUNDAY SAMPLER

WELCOME, WELCOME TO SUNDAY SAMPLER

IVE BEEN TALKING A LOT ABOUT THE UNDEPARTED; TODAY, HOWEVER, I'M GOING TO GIVE YOU FOLKS A SAMPLER FROM MY HISTORICAL ROMANCE NOVEL, THE GOLD SEEKER'S DAUGHTER.....

July 1848 somewhere on the Plains
 

Lord have mercy!
It had to be a hallucination brought on by the incessant squeak of wagon wheels, ungodly thirst for some cool water, the monotony of prairie grass, nothing but tall sun parched prairie grass.

Or was Enya's nightmare coming true?

She strained hard at the horizon, squinting from the sun.

Suddenly the ground shook and soon after the thunder of horses' hooves stormed the prairie. Just over the rolling hill where the sun was bright, a visage of four, five, six men on horses came barreling towards their white topped wagon. The glow of the sun prevented details but all of a sudden there were hoots and hollers and it was obvious who were on those charging stallions. "Injuns!" exclaimed Buck who had already pulled his team of mules to an abrupt stop and was standing up with his rifle pointing.

A squeak of fear fell from Enya's parted lips. Her nightmare of encountering Indians was coming true; it was no hallucination after all. And it was dreadful. Lord in heaven why? Why hadn't her father changed his mind and turned that mule wagon back home, back east? She had tried to warn him about the perils of venturing west, not to go looking for gold because they were bound to encounter Indians, but did he listen? No! He probably thought she was too young to be listened to, but she was eighteen, a woman now! Even the bartender warned him before they journeyed onward, but Buck wouldn't heed his advice either; thought he was one who took rumor as God's good word. Guess it didn't matter who tried to advise him. Bonnie always said her husband was as stubborn as an old mule.

 Now what was going to happen?

A panic of wonder rushed through Enya's body from head to toe. What could her father do against a stampede of charging Indians, she wondered. He was only one man. Yes, Buck had the fighting spirit, the will to survive, that Hawkens rifle he bragged on, the body build to defend her and her mother, but still he was only one man. She prayed the rifle would be as precise as he claimed it was. Enya peered out from the bonnet top and watched her father take aim and at first wondered if he should wait to see if the Indians were friendly, but an arrow came flying through the air and that was proof enough that those Indians meant business. Buck fired that long range rifle and one Indian went down hard. Enya's pulse raced. Bonnie ducked down in the front seat at Buck's insistence and prayed the Lord's Prayer. If they were going to die that day, she wanted the good Lord to know they were coming.

Enya was in the back of the wagon watching with dreaded fascination.

Buck fired another shot and another Indian went down. He fell off the back of his white horse, dead instantly, but the others were still coming. They were getting closer, almost upon them. Arrows were flying like birds, but fell short. Enya hunkered down in the back behind some old luggage and trunks, but worried for her father who could be struck dead at any moment by one of those blasted arrows. Buck shot again and missed. He fired another shot as fast as the muzzleloader would allow, and the third Indian went down.

 Now there were three.

The odds were getting better. Still the Indians were able to shoot those arrows faster than Buck could load up, but a rifle was still a far superior weapon and Buck was proving to be a formidable opponent.

Enya told herself there was hope.

Maybe her nightmare of being carried off by an Indian wouldn't come true after all. She peeked above the luggage and had a small vista of the prairie. She saw trails of dirt swirling in the air behind the charging horses....... (You gotta get the book and see what happens) But it now

AWESOME AUTHOR, Olga Nunez Miret

WELCOME AWESOME AUTHOR Olga Nunez Miret

I am happy to introduce Olga to you folks. She's a really nice woman, a really bright woman, as she is a forensics psychaiatrist, and a really talented author. I consider her a friend.

 

"I’m from Barcelona, Spain, but I’ve lived in the United Kingdom for 20 years. I’m a psychiatrist (work in forensic psychiatry…nothing to do with profiling or anything like that), I also got a BA in American Literature (University of Sussex, including a year at Mount Holyoke College) and completed a PhD on the films of David Mamet (worth watching if you haven’t), and recently a Masters in Criminology (interesting but not particularly related to profiling either. Just in case you were wondering). Yes, I like to study. I also like going to the gym, mostly classes, and I do body attack and body combat and zumba and step…and more recently yoga. I like to travel (although I don’t do it as often as I’d like), I go to the cinema and theatre fairly regularly, I go for walks, I read, I write, I crochet, I chat to friends (don’t cook much). Ah yes, and I like owls." Olga

 

BOOK SPOTLIGHT ON OLGA'S DEBUT NOVEL:

 

THE MAN WHO NEVER WAS

 

Jesus is born to a single mom in a small village. His mom comes from a very good family & is a very popular young woman. She is also extremely beautiful, unlike Jesus. In fact Jesus is so ugly that even his grandmother thinks he must be pure evil.

However Jesus is the total opposite & grows up to be a lovely, kind & very intelligent man.

Few years after giving birth to Jesus his mother gets married & has another amazing child.

When the time is right she moves to a big city and becomes a very successful politician and a wealthy businesswoman.

Jesus & his family’s life is perfect in a way. Whatever they decide to embark on, it turns out to be successful.

Jesus graduates from school, university, is successful at sports & eventually he becomes happy in his personal life, despite his unappealing looks.

Is Jesus ever going to find out who his father was? Is his mother going to reveal the secret? Is the luck & success of his family connected to his father?

BUY IT NOW ON AMAZON

FIVE STAR REVIEW

5.0 out of 5 stars Must Read!!! 6 Nov 2012

By CHERYL COPPENRATH - Published on Amazon.com

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

Olga Nunez Miret is an exceptional story-teller of impressive talent. Her story THE MAN WHO NEVER WAS is a magic carpet of brightly-colored and expertly woven threads--transporting readers to the dazzling, dizzying, fast-paced world of political and corporate power. Her characters are amazingly well-drawn, reminding us of all that is both good and bad in humanity. I did not want her story to end--but the good news is that Olga Nunez Miret has many other projects underway! I am already in line and I have no doubt that you will want to join me! Thank you, Olga!!!

BUY IT NOW ON AMAZON SPANISH VERSION


 

Please give Olga Nunez Miret a follow:

 

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FLIP FLOP FRIDAY INTERVIEW, Unorthodox Mama

WELCOME MAY, FROM UNORTHODOX MAMA BLOGSPOT

 

It is my pleasure to spotlight May and her blog for this Flip Flop Friday interview! Here's what May had to say:

I am a single mother to a wonderful little girl. We live in a small town in Canada. ( Hence my using Canadian spelling)
A town that has completely surprised me, and is very much home to us.

I am a very passionate mama, it’s what I was truly born to do (yes, I know *gag* on the lovey mommy drippings! But, it’s SO true)

Becoming a mother changed not just the way I viewed (and coped) with the world but also the things that were important to me. It literally changed my entire world.

Since becoming a mom new causes are close to my heart. Children’s Literacy and access to books being one of them.

My little lady is one years old today.

A year of breast feeding, of sleeping through the night (well, minus two months) giggles and smiles and your wonderful sweet baby smell.

We had your party the Saturday before, boy were you moody and tired. You were up at 6:45am, only napped 30 minutes in the morning before the party and for a few minutes while nursing much later that evening.

You do not like icing. There was no crazy cake eating for you. You are also not really into solids yet. Unless it’s cheese or chicken.

I can’t believe I brought you home a year ago and you were a little 5 pound 11 oz sleepy girl with some slight jaundice. Here you are now a year later and creeping up on 20 pounds.

You are already talking up a storm. Mama, Mommy, Mum mum (your baby cookie) Ca (t) Ba (ll) Pa and Na

You are finally crawling off the floor. I wondered if you would stop military crawling before you began walking.

You occasionally stand holding the couch but you’re not real interested unless there’s something up there you want.

You’ve just realized you can stand on one foot so it sure makes things interesting. You’ve almost made us both topple a time or two.

Music, whether it be through a toy or the stereo, you love it. You are picky though. You were first into Raffi, then a cd I had made with your name in the songs which lead to you refusing anything to do with Raffi.
Now you seem to really be getting into your Toopy & Binoo cd as well as classical music. Especially Beethoven.

You dance and clap and get so excited. I just love it.

What a year it’s been.
You’ve changed my world and me for the better. I don’t remember what life was like before you came along.
Before my purse was full of crumbs and baby cookies, toys and tissues.

(Note: No purse or bag, no matter how big will ever be big enough. It’s just life. I’ve finally figured that out and accepted it.)

It hasn’t been easy but I wouldn’t change anything. You are my world, my dream come true, you are everything I could dream of and more.

I am so proud of you. You have really shown everyone just how amazing you are. People had so many assumptions about you because you were so small. But they look at you now and are just blown away.

I knew you would be amazing right from the start. My little miracle.

You have shown everyone that you can and will do anything right from the start. You have strength in you many could only dream of.
Never forget that. You can do anything you want.

I will always support, love and cherish you.
I could not ask for a better baby, everything about you is perfect.

Your bright blue eyes, your gorgeous smile that lights up the room. Your giggles that break out into hiccups at least once a day.

I am the luckiest mother on the face of the planet for being blessed with you in my life.
I love you baby girl with all that I am and all that I will ever be.

Love,
Mommy
xoxo

DEBORAH: I don't know about everyone else but I thought what May said was absolutley beautiful!
Let's get started with the interview.  When did your love of reading begin?

My love of reading has always just been there. I have no conscious memory of not having a book in my hand.

DEBORAH: Do you remember your first book?

My first book, no but I remember the first book I really loved. 
A National Geographic book first published the year I was born. It was a book about ancient civilizations and archaeology.
It used to belong to a family member, I'd read it every time I visited.  They gifted the book to me as an adult.
I still love that book as much as I did back then.

DEBORAH: National Geo is an awesome publication. Do you have a favorite genre you like to read?

Science fiction or fantasy. I always hit that section first in any bookstore.

DEBORAH: You must have loved Star Wars. Do you have a favorite place you like to read?

I read anywhere I can steal even five minutes. Usually though I'm sitting in bed with my toddler curled up sleeping beside me.

DEBORAH: Oh, how sweet and cozy! What made you decide to start blogging about books?

Blogging and me is one of those things I kept coming back to for quite a few years.
When I became a mother, I needed an outlet. I also became passionate about children's literacy, and wanted to find a way to share my love for reading and try to help put good books into the right hands. Blogging gives me an outlet and also lets me share and rave about books.

DEBORAH: Tell me you love Indie authors and that besides me, HA HA  you discovered some great ones!

I have discovered some great authors.  Some of my new favourite authors are indie authors. They're fantastic people.

DEBORAH: I feel the same way; I've met some nice people along the way. What's life away from books and blogging like?

I'm not sure I am ever away from books (or blogging) very long. I am a single mom to a young toddler who loves books as much as I do. She is forever crawling up my legs with a book in her hand. Story time is our favourite time.
Life does get chaotic. Between teaching a tiny human the basics of walking, talking, eating and trying to find time to shower, there is always a lot going on.
I have a novel that's sadly on the back burner due to time and lack of extra arms to get everything done right now. But I am determined.
I couldn't imagine life any other way. It's busy but it's pretty fantastic.

Thanks for stopping by May. You've been a delight! Come again!

 Please give May a follow! 

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EMAIL: unorthodoxmama@gmail.com

 

 

HAPPY THANKSGIVING

I WISH YOU ALL A BEAUTIFUL DAY WITH YOUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS.

"I will thank you, LORD, with all my heart; I will tell of all the marvelous things you have done. I will be filled with joy because of you. I will sing praises to your name, O Most High" Psalm 9:1,2

 

I Want to share some Thanksgiving history with you: I hope you'll take the time to read the copied text from Franklin D Roosevelt , but first I want to say this:

 

George Washington, the Father of our Country, acknowledged God as the source of our Nation’s strength and very existence. He felt so strongly about this that he made a proclamation for a national day of thanksgiving on Thursday, November 26th 1789.

He believed in the importance of setting aside a day to honor God and give thanks individually and corporately as a people.

 

President Abraham Lincoln made it a national holiday on Thursday November 26th, 1863

Above George Wshington and President Lincoln, comes even a greater command, from a much higher source... the Bible. 

 

“Give thanks to the LORD and proclaim his greatness. Let the whole world know what he has done” (I Chronicles 16:8 NLT).

 

Thanksgiving Day- 1933 By the President of the United States of America A Proclamation

I, Franklin D. Roosevelt, President of the United States of America, do set aside and appoint Thursday, the thirtieth day of November 1933, to be a Day of Thanksgiving for all our people.

May we on that day in our churches and in our homes give humble thanks for the blessings bestowed upon us during the year past by Almighty God.

May we recall the courage of those who settled a wilderness, the vision of those who founded the Nation, the steadfastness of those who in every succeeding generation have fought to keep pure the ideal of equality of opportunity and hold clear the goal of mutual help in time of prosperity as in time of adversity.

May we be grateful for the passing of dark days; for the new spirit of dependence one on another; for the closer unity of all parts of our wide land; for the greater friendship between employers and those who toil; for a clearer knowledge by all nations that we seek no conquests and ask only honorable engagements by all people to respect the lands and rights of their neighbors; for the brighter day to which we can win through by seeking the help of God in amore unselfish striving for the bettering of mankind.

In Witness Whereof I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of the United States to be affixed.

Done at the City of Washington this twenty-first day of November, in the year of our Lord nineteen hundred and thirty-three and of the Independence of the United States of America the one hundred and fifty-eighth.

Franklin D. Roosevelt.
 

Happy Thanksgiving, Everyone,

Deborah Palumbo

 

 

 

 

 

 

EXTREMELY IMPORTANT, Please read!

EVERYONE, MY BLOGGER FRIEND KAYLA WHO I WAS FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO CROSS PATHS WITH POSTED SOMETHING TODAY THAT I BESEECH YOU TO READ. SIMPLY CLICK THIS LINK TO HER BLOG.

Deborah Palumbo

TUESDAY TIDBIT

WELCOME TO TUESDAY TIDBIT.

THAT MEANS I'M GOING TO SHARE A TIDBIT OF MY NOVEL WITH YOU. THE NOVEL I'VE CHOSEN TODAY IS:

THE ASCENT OF THE UNDEPARTED                                                                  

The rain came harder and plummeted against the window glass, where there was still window glass, and the lightening flashed in the sky making the great old lifeless tree outside of the window come to life in shadows on the wallpaper. It was cold and damp and even a vampire like him felt it to his immortal bones. He huddled there in that corner, the dwindling fire in the fireplace was sparking, and he finished drinking the last drop of what's her name's blood; he couldn't remember her name, there had been so many, but he had lured her there from the pub with a promise of a fine dinner and a romantic evening and didn't care about the woeful expression in her eyes as he viciously sank his teeth into her throat. She lay heaped in that corner and when he finished his meal of her he moved closer to the fire, leaving her naked body to shiver in the cold until she gasped her last breath. A rat scampered away when he drew near the fire and went behind the wainscot with the others where they dwelled and gnawed and scratched through the night. Night after night he listened to them scratch and race about while he lay there staring at the ceiling that was once finely painted, a renaissance scene that was now so faded he could barely see a woman's form and red cloak that draped her shoulder. Now and then pieces of the old wet plaster would float down, but it sure wasn't manna from heaven.

PLEASE LET ME KNOW THAT YOU LIKED THE TIDBIT I SHARED WITH YOU BY HITTING THE LIKE BUTTON ON AMAZON!

AWESOME AUTHOR, Paulette Mahurin

WELCOME AWESOME AUTHOR PAULETTE MAHURIN
AUTHOR OF
THE PERSECUTION OF MILDRED DUNLAP
“If you need to question your values, read this book! The author captures the intolerance and hypocrisy of a 1895 Nevada town, and its transcendence in time through tolerance and understanding. The angst and pain that two women feel daily, living the ‘lie’ of their lesbian relationship, and the prejudice they must endure, is unconscionable. I was moved to tears by their struggle in the face of the conflicted values that continue to dominate our ‘modern’ society.” William K. Fox, PhD, Professor of Zoology

“Paulette Mahurin’s first novel is surefooted and unflinching in its portrayal of a singular and unique character and her compelling struggles. Compassionate and confident, Mahurin allows Mildred’s story to burn through onto the page with all its inherent outrage and tenacious, abiding love. Here is a character we can champion—flawed, striving, surviving— and fully embrace in her awkward, beautiful navigation of a world that resists her in every way.” Deb Norton, Playwrite/screenwriter of The Whole Banana

SYNOPSIS:

The year 1895 was filled with memorable historical events: the Dreyfus Affair divided France; Booker T. Washington gave his Atlanta address; Richard Olney, United States Secretary of State, expanded the effects of the Monroe Doctrine in settling a boundary dispute between the United Kingdom and Venezuela; and Oscar Wilde was tried and convicted for gross indecency under Britain’s recently passed law that made sex between males a criminal offense. When news of Wilde’s conviction went out over telegraphs worldwide, it threw a small Nevada town into chaos. This is the story of what happened when the lives of its citizens were impacted by the news of Oscar Wilde’s imprisonment. It is a chronicle of hatred and prejudice with all its unintended and devastating consequences, and how love and friendship bring strength and healing.

BUY THE BOOK ON AMAZON

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Paulette Mahurin is a Nurse Practitioner who lives in Ojai, California with her husband Terry and their three dogs—Eli, Max, and Bella. She practices women’s health in a rural clinic and writes in her spare time.

FROM THE AUTHOR:

From the time I was ten year old, I've loved to write. While in college I wrote two award winning short stories. This encouraged me to continue to write, and write I did but never completed any of my novels due to other responsibilities: education, jobs, family, etc. After attending and receiving a Master's Degree in the Nurse Practitioner Program at UCLA, I went to work in the second busiest emergency room in Los Angeles county. I saw and learned about things that haunted me, until bit by a tick and diagnosed with Lyme Disease (which went to my heart valves, brain, and muscular skeletal system) knocked me down and afforded me time to write and release the memories onto pages before me. I wrote, and wrote, and released what was stored inside, which finally gave way to a story that was to change my life, The Persecution of Mildred Dunlap. When I began to feel better, I joined a writing class, in Ojai, CA, where I live. The teacher, Deb Norton (screenwrite/playwrite of The Whole Banana) had us do an exercise involving a photo. We were to write a 10 minute mystery. The photo I picked was of two women huddled close together in clothing that looked circa turn of the twentieth century. I made them a Lesbian couple trying to avoid being found out. In my research, I came across Oscar Wilde's imprisonment. Britain had recently changed it's laws to make homosexual activity, a man having sex with another man, a criminal offense resulting in a two year hard labor prison sentence. The combination of the photo from that writing class and Oscar Wilde's imprisonment were the seeds that started the story, six years in the making. For those six years, I studied Wilde, the history of Lesbians, western settlement in the United States, and I opened to what it must have been like to live in fear of being persecuted because of the nature of one's existence, that can no more be changed than the color of grass. As I wrote, I saw myself in the characters who I dialogued with, related with as if we were friends today, and in doing this I learned that external factors may change (the environment, technology, family relating, etc.) but the nature of the human condition and how we manifest remains the same. There will always be stories to tell, to write, to read, to appreciate, because we invest in literature from our humanness, our emotional composition, and we relate to the imagery created with narrative and dialogue that suit our preferences. We are drawn in, over and over and over again, to similar story lines, themes, sequels, because of this human experience--that in sitting down before a book or ebook, we are transcended out of our ordinary lives to magical places that written words create, no matter how similar or repetitive the story, because,after all, we are all living, breathing, stories.

Thank you for arriving at my page. I hope you read and enjoy my story.

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THE UNDEPARTED IS #1 in occult fiction on Amazon

I just had to share my good news and thank everyone for their support of THE UNDEPARTED 
The Undeparted went to #1 in occult fiction on 11/18 onAmazon AND #14 in suspense on Amazon

SYNOPSIS:
Cassandra is trying to figure out if she was actually bitten by a vampire and whisked away to his castle or if it was a very vivid dream, one which has left her to contemplate her own sanity.

Unknowingly, she is the only mortal to resist the vampire's bite and capture the heart of the most powerful vampire that ever existed; the one who began the entire race of the undead, Quentin Castle.

For ions Quentin has felt nothing but the lust for blood. But Cassandra has awakened something in him that he had forsaken a millennium ago; he is determined to win this beautiful woman by mortal means rather than by the vampire's bite. But will he be able to suppress his natural instinct? Will he be able to prove to the skeptical Cassandra that he is a vampire and not an imposter, a wannabe? What hideous thing will he do to prove that he is a vampire, prove that he isn't using some kind of parlor trick, some Houdini magic, and that he is the real thing?

As evidence mounts on Quentin's behalf and she can no longer deny her encounter was real and not a dream, will Cassandra be able to resist his evil charm and convince her boyfriend, police officer Mike Lapp and best friend Lucy that vampires really do exist and she's being stalked by one?

To expedite their liaison, Quentin devises a scheme to blackmail Cassandra by setting up her boyfriend for a murder he didn't commit. Cassandra must surrender herself to Quentin for her boyfriend's sake and wait for Mike to scale the walls of the vampire's castle and rescue her. But when her boyfriend arrives, she's in for the shock of her life. People are not always what they seem to be.

A Typical Sunday Prayer from Presidents Past

MAN, HAVE OUR PRESIDENTS CHANGED!

THINGS HAVE CHANGED SO DRASTICALLY AND NOT FOR THE BETTER, IN MY HUMBLE OPINION.

THE FOLLOWING IS A TYPICAL SUNDAY PRAYER FROM OUR PRESIDENT GEORGE WASHINGTON. IN DOING RESEARCH I HAVE DISCOVERED MORE PRAYERS, JUST LIKE THIS, BY OUR OTHER FOUNDING FATHERS

CAN ANYONE TELL ME HOW THE LEADERS AT THE HELM OF THIS AWESOME NATION HAVE CHANGED SO DRASTICALLY?  WE NEED LEADERS WHO LOVE GOD AND COUNTRY!

Almighty God, and most merciful father, who didst command the children of Israel to offer a daily sacrifice to thee, that thereby they might glorify and praise thee for thy protection both night and day, receive, O Lord, my morning sacrifice which I now offer up to thee; I yield thee humble and hearty thanks that thou has preserved me from the danger of the night past, and brought me to the light of the day, and the comforts thereof, a day which is consecrated ot thine own service and for thine own honor. Let my heart, therefore, Gracious God, be so affected with the glory and majesty of it, that I may not do mine own works, but wait on thee, and discharge those weighty duties thou requirest of me, and since thou art a God of pure eyes, and wilt be sanctified in all who draw near unto thee, who doest not regard the sacrifice of fools, nor hear sinners who tread in thy courts, pardon, I beseech thee, my sins, remove them from thy presence, as far as the east is from the west, and accept of me for the merits of thy son Jesus Christ, that when I come into thy temple, and compass thine altar, my prayers may come before thee as incense; and as thou wouldst hear me calling upon thee in my prayers, so give me grace to hear thee calling on me in thy word, that it may be wisdom, righteousness, reconciliation and peace to the saving of the soul in the day of the Lord Jesus. Grant that I may hear it with reverence, receive it with meekness, mingle it with faith, and that it may accomplish in me, Gracious God, the good work for which thou has sent it. Bless my family, kindred, friends and country, be our God & guide this day and for ever for his sake, who ay down in the Grave and arose again for us, Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.

From William J. Johnson, George Washington, The Christian (New York: The Abingdon Press, 1919).

SATURDAY SNIPPET

EVER WONDER HOW CASSANDRA AND QUENTIN MET?

The man looked up from the desk and thought he recognized her from a dream. She was absolutely beautiful.  She was in the palest of blue like the sky and a necklace of God was around her throat. Quentin closed the book he was reading so intently and rose, going to her side.  He stared at her a minute and then forced himself to turn away.  Cassandra felt dizzy, but knew she would be all right if she could just get out of there somehow. Maybe this wasn't even happening? Maybe it was just a dream; a nightmare from which she would wake?

"How did you meet her?" Quentin asked.

"I saw her in the produce aisle at the grocery store two weeks ago. We were both buying bananas." Christian looked at Cassandra. "I bet you wish you never bought those bananas for your Cheerios," he said.

Cassandra wondered how she could have been so oblivious to such an evil man who obviously followed her on more than one occasion.

"What's your name?" Quentin asked.

"Cassandra. If it‘s any business of yours." She had always been tenacious, ever since she was a young girl. Her adrenalin was flowing and underneath the sheer fear of it all, those surreal circumstances, dread and panic were settling hard into her stomach, but there wasn't time for the luxury of panic.

"You look a little peaked, Cassandra. Are you all right?" Quentin asked.

"I'm tired, my mouth is dry and I feel dizzy, but under the circumstance, I could feel much worse."

Quentin moved to his desk. He put his hand around a beautiful crystal flask. "Could I offer you a drink?"

"This isn't a social call."

"A glass of water then?"

"No. I just want to go home."

Quentin glanced at her neck. There was a droplet of blood on her collar. "I don't understand why you don't want to stay here. Aren't you Christian's guest?" he said.

"Guest? Is that the word you use?  I call it kidnapped."

Quentin looked puzzled. After all, she had been bitten; he could see the blood on her neck, yet she resisted Christians spell. No mortal can resist the vampire's bite. Quentin looked to Christian for answers.

"I can't explain her strange and defiant behavior. All I can say is she's a bitch. Do you believe she fought me after I bit her?" Christian said.

So, Quentin wasn't shocked that his friend went around biting women on their necks, Cassandra thought.

"After?" Quentin said surprised.

"That's right. I had to whack her couple of times to get her to calm down."

"Be kind to this one, Christian."

"She's no different than the rest; you whack them around a little, but they still warm the bed the same."

Cassandra gave him a cold stare.

2 Things today. THE UNDEPARTED IS FREE,AND Im being spotlighted

I WILL BE ON MAY'S BLOG TODAY @ UNORTHODOX MAMA BLOG SPOT.

PLEASE JOIN US. MAY WAS KIND ENOUGH TO HOST ME TODAY TO TALK ABOUT MY NEW RELEASE ON DECEMBER 1, THE BANISHED ONE, BOOK 3 IN THE UNDEPARTED .....AND THE UNDEPARTED IS FREE THIS WEEKEND, 11/17 N 11/18!.
GRAB A FREE COPY AND GET CAUGHT UP ON THE SERIES

BOOK ONE in the Undeparted Series.

Cassandra is trying to figure out if she was actually bitten by a vampire and whisked away to his castle or if it was a very vivid dream, one which has left her to contemplate her own sanity.

Unknowingly, she is the only mortal to resist the vampire's bite and capture the heart of the most powerful vampire that ever existed; the one who began the entire race of the undead, Quentin Castle.

For ions Quentin has felt nothing but the lust for blood. But Cassandra has awakened something in him that he had forsaken a millennium ago; he is determined to win this beautiful woman by mortal means rather than by the vampire's bite. But will he be able to suppress his natural instinct? Will he be able to prove to the skeptical Cassandra that he is a vampire and not an imposter, a wannabe? What hideous thing will he do to prove that he is a vampire, prove that he isn't using some kind of parlor trick, some Houdini magic, and that he is the real thing?

As evidence mounts on Quentin's behalf and she can no longer deny her encounter was real and not a dream, will Cassandra be able to resist his evil charm and convince her boyfriend, police officer Mike Lapp and best friend Lucy that vampires really do exist and she's being stalked by one?

To expedite their liaison, Quentin devises a scheme to blackmail Cassandra by setting up her boyfriend for a murder he didn't commit. Cassandra must surrender herself to Quentin for her boyfriend's sake and wait for Mike to scale the walls of the vampire's castle and rescue her. But when her boyfriend arrives, she's in for the shock of her life. People are not always what they seem to be.

EXCERPT:

Cassandra pulled into her driveway and parked.  The headlights of her car made eerie shadows on the bushes nearby. She grabbed the two bags of groceries from the trunk and headed towards her front door. She pressed her key into the lock and moved inside.  Before she could put down the grocery bags and flip on a light, a brute hand smacked her across the face and flung her across the room.  Her bags went flying in the air, landing next to her on the floor. Stunned and hurt, she didn't move. There was a terrible stinging on her cheek from his onyx ring.

Suddenly a light came on, and right before her stood this guy with mean, dark eyes. Her body went cold with fear.  Before she could gather a rational thought, he lunged at her with lightning speed and sank his pointed teeth into her neck. She felt strangely weak; almost paralyzed. It was as if he was draining her of her life force; removing her will power.  Nothing in her self-defense class prepared her for this scenario.  Could it be some horrible dream?

After a few minutes, he withdrew from her, satisfied.  He licked his lips and could taste the essence of her life on his mouth.  He had an exalted expression on his face, almost as if biting her was a religious experience.  He was pleased with her dark hair and loved how it cascaded gently across her neck and framed her ivory skin. A droplet of blood laid on the blue collar of her button down shirt.

Cassandra laid there dazed, but somewhere in the dreary recesses of her mind she was aware of his frightful presence and those dark eyes glaring at her.  Too weak, temples throbbing, her heartbeat slow and erratic, she couldn't muster the strength or desire to drive him off.  When her head finally cleared, she realized the pain he had inflicted had ceased. But this terrible dread moved through her body and settled in the pit of her stomach. 

She understood that she had to get out of there.

She looked up at her attacker through frightened eyes. At the moment he was calm and collected; not at all like the man he was minutes - or was it hours ago?  His eyes were still intense; something about them weakened her, but she could resist. Slowly she rose; her mouth was dry with fear.

"My boyfriend will be here any minute; he's a police officer and –"

"Your boyfriend works Tuesday nights.  He won't be home until seven tomorrow morning."

Her eyes widened.  "How do you know that?"

"I've been watching you, and you didn't even know it; did you?"

"Just get out and leave me alone."

He glared at her, almost with glowing eyes. She felt a trickle of blood on her neck.  He moved toward her and laid his hand on her shoulder. Should she run?  Could she even get away from him if she tried?  Should she slug him and hope he'll go down?

"Whatever you're thinking," he began, "you'll forget it and do what I tell you; understand?"

She shrugged off his hand and dashed into the kitchen.  She grabbed a dirty iron skillet from the stove and froze. She could see him coming towards her. A dimly lit lamp mounted on the wall by the table cast angry shadows over his face.

"Stay away from me!"

He kept coming; approaching her with this strange look on his face. The pan in her hand was shaking from fear.

When he reached her, she swung the iron skillet, but missed him.  She swung it a second time, and whack, right on his cheek. One would think he would go down hard or at least wince in pain, but he was unharmed, undaunted.  No ordinary man could endure the weight of an iron skillet smashing across his face.

"What the hell do you think you're doing, bitch?" he asked, frowning.

"What the hell are you doing?" she replied.

He had never, absolutely never come across such an obstinate, strong willed woman before.  "Look into my eyes," he commanded. "Put the pan down and follow me."

 She began waving the skillet again in a threatening gesture.  This time, he wasn't going to allow her to hit him; not because he was afraid of being hurt, but because he was consumed by a rage that such a woman would dare defy him after he bit her. Suddenly he lunged at her with brute force, knocking the skillet from her hand onto the ceramic floor. A struggle ensued, but she was no match for him. He drew on his inner strength, and with one mighty blow, knocked her out cold.

When she woke up, she found herself being carried from a dark colored BMW up large steps to a heavy oaken door that led to a Gothic mansion meticulously maintained. Was it a blue BMW?  What was the license plate number, she wondered, as Mike would need it to catch this creep, if she ever got out of there alive, that is.  She couldn't catch the number.

She was ushered through the grand foyer, through a gilded archway, and into a mahogany-paneled library where elegant statuary sat on shelves. Behind an antique desk sat a handsome man, dark haired and elegant and behind him were drapes of green silk at the windows. "Quentin, I brought a friend home," the kidnapper said of Cassandra.

 

FLIP FLOP FRIDAY INTERVIEW, Kayla S

YUP, IT'S FLIP FLOP FRIDAY
 WHEN I TURN THE SPOTLIGHT FROM AUTHOR TO READER!
AND WE HAVE AN AWESOME GUEST TODAY
KAYLA IS IN THE HOUSE

SHE IS THE HOST OF THE BLOG,

THE RAMBLINGS OF A TODDLER'S MOM

 

ABOUT KAYLA;

Your average 26 year old full-time working wife, mom, self-proclaimed book addict.

Survived high school, graduated from college with a bachelor of science degree, currently surviving (barely) a house that contains 2 boys (husband & son) + 3 dogs (mastiff, lab, dachshund), plus I do all this with a full time job (other than the never-ending mommy duties)

Occupation: CME Coordinator

 

QUOTE KAYLA LOVES: I am a badass , and I recognize that you too are a bad ass."

 

When I met Kayla, I instantly liked her. She is vibrant, enthusiastic and sweet! I knew I had to interview her for Flip Flop Friday. I am so happy she's here to answer a few questions. Afterwards, please join her blog, give her a follow!

KAYLAS BLOG

 

   

 

 

Kayla shared some sweet photos with us

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 





 

 



 

DEBORAH: When did you realize you love to read?

 I’ve loved to read for as long as I can remember. I remember sitting in preschool (which happened to be in a library in Montana) on our abc rug listening to the teachers read to us. I loved elementary school in Alaska because we had this amazing extra-curricular reading program – I still have all of the ribbons and medals I won during those years for the amount of books that I read. Being in a library or a bookstore has always brought me a sense of peace. I get excited when I browse through books because you never know what you’ll find between the pages.

DEBORAH: Do you remember the first book you really loved?

Hmmm I don’t remember the very first book that I loved but I love Dr. Seuss books… I LOVE “Put Me In a Zoo” by Robert Lopshire.
Of course I had my share of Golden Books. I grew up loving the shows Reading Rainbow & Wishbone (yea the dog with a paw print spot on his ear that puts himself in stories as the main character hehe). After I was a little older, I became obsessed with Goosebumps by RL Stine, then Sweet Valley High. When I hit jr high & high school, I became addicted to Stephen King. I have full shelves of nothing but SK. As far back as I can remember, I’ve been a book junkie J

DEBORAH: I used to love Dr. Seuss too: The Cat in the Hat, Are you my Mother? Green eggs and Ham. I guess the last time I read them was... last night! LOL
What genre(s) do you prefer reading?

 I like to keep an open mind when I’m reading… I try not to narrow my book collection down to one specific genre but I can honestly say I always go back to paranormal romance, fantasy, urban fantasy and here lately, I’ve read several New Adult type romances. My book shelf is primarily paranormal/fantasy & paranormal romance though… I just love a good vampire or demon book J I’m a huge fan of Larissa Ione, Kresley Cole & Gena Showalter. I definitely plan on adding The Undeparted Series by Deborah to my list! I can’t wait to start the series!

The only genres that I really don’t have a thing for are non-fiction or biographical novels… the ONLY non-fiction novel I’ve ever liked has been “Into the Wild” by Jon Krakauer. My family lived in Alaska when his story broke so I guess I have a soft spot for Chris’ story.

DEBORAH: Oh how interesting that you lived in ALaska. I'm sure next time we csn talk about that if you'd like. Oh and thanks so much for adding The Undeparted to yor reading list.
How many books per week do you read?

 Before I started blogging, I generally read between 5-7 books a week… yes, I do have a life outside of reading so I know that’s an insane amount of books to read a week… but honestly, when I find a book I’m into, I can’t put it down. I’m a night owl so I read all hours of the night. Now since I’ve started blogging, I only read between 2-3 books a week. I spend a lot of time now blogging, networking with other fabulous bloggers, or on Twitter… guilty as charged >_<

DEBORAH: 2 to 3 books per wek is still fabulous! Hey, let's tweet togethrr; I'm on TWITTER too!
How do you feel about Indie authors?

 Honestly, I’d love to give each and every Independent author a big hug for all of their hard work. I think that if you have a passion for writing, have a story you want others to read and you’re not afraid to jump in head first, then do what you have to do to get it out there. All Independent authors should give themselves a pat on the back. I’ve read several indie books this year and I cannot imagine what my library would’ve looked like without them.

DEBORAH: That's awesome Kayla. Stamp out any snobbery that may exist in the self pub vs trad pub world!
What made you decide to start blogging?

 Well if you haven’t realized it just yet, I LOVE to read. I enjoy reading other’s reviews (as long as they don’t have spoilers) so I thought “hey, why don’t I start writing reviews on some of the books that I’ve been reading?” I kept a Xanga journal when I was in college, then started a Blogger a few years ago. I didn’t have the time to keep it up and writing about my life was…well…boring. When I finally decided to jump into blogging again, I wasn’t sure I wanted to be solely focused on books so that is why I tell a few stories here and there about my life with a toddler… those CRAZY moments that make me want to laugh, cry, scream… all of the above… I never imagine there was such a massive, welcoming world of book blogging out there in cyberland. I mean, WOW, I haven’t had this much fun online in quite some time. I LOVE browsing other blogs, talking with authors, and networking to find new books/bloggers.

DEBORAH: Tell us a little about your life away from blogs and books.

 Well… I work 40 hours (sometimes +) in a hospital an hour away from my house. I work in Medical Staff Services so I help take care of everything physician related. Several late nights on occasion working with physicians… fun right? J I’m a home body so I enjoy just sitting around the house when I’m not working. There’s really nothing to do where I live in Louisiana unless I want to go back to the city I work in and that’s really not something I want to do on the weekends. After college, my besties and I all split up around the state L Horrible I know but that just makes the times that we are together even more fabulous.

My husband & I only have one son (thank goodness = he’s hard enough for us to handle HA) but we have a house full. We have Baylee (my 90 pound, 9 month old mastiff puppy), Drake (our black lab), and JoJo (our dachshund).
My only other hobby these days is amateur photography. I LOVE my camera & enjoy taking pictures.

Otherwise, it’s books & blogging for me! ^_^ I’m super excited to be able to share my love of books with such an amazing world of book bloggers. I’ve loved sharing a little bit about myself with you. Thank you Deborah for this fabulous opportunity!! You’ve been awesome & I can’t wait to start reading your The Undeparted Series!!

DEBORAH: I'm excited that you'll read it, thank you! And thank you so much for being such a great guest. I love your pics, and I think your life in Louisianna sounds charming and delightful. I'm really glad we met and look forward to "chewing the fat" with you again!

Hey everyone, please give Kayla a follow at these places:

 

TWITTER:

BLOG:

GOODREADS:

NINGS BOOK BLOGS:

GOOGLE:

MY INTERVIEW TODAY

I'M STOPPING BY CHANTELL RHONDEAU'S BLOG TODAY. SHE WAS KIND ENOUGH TO SPOTLIGHT ME AND THE UNDEPARTED SERIES, SO PLEASE STOP BY TOO AND LET ME CHEW YOUR EAR OFF FOR A FEW MINUTES. LEAVE A COMMENT SO I HAVE SOMETHING TO READ TODAY!

JUST A REMINDER THAT THE UNDEPARTED IS FREE THIS WEEKEND.

WITH BOOK 3 COMING OUT DEC 1, IT'S A GREAT TIME TO CATCH UP ON THE SERIES

TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS FREEBIE

THE UNDEPARTED IS FREE on 11/17 n 11/18

CATCH UP ON THE SERIES NOW. BOOK 3 IS COMING OUT ON DECEMBER 1, SO IT IS THE PERFECT TIME TO CATCH UP, STARTING WITH BOOK 1 THE UNDEPARTED, IT IS TOTALLY  FREE 11/17 N 11/18.

GRAB YOUR COPY AND CATCH UP.

 

HERE'S A TIDBIT OF INFO:

ALLOW ME TO INTRODUCE QUENTIN CASTLE, THE FATHER OF ALL VAMPIRES, CASSANDRA, THE MORTAL HE LOVES WHO IS NO LONGER MORTAL, QUENTIN'S SIDEKICK CHRISTIAN WHO HAS BEEN WITH HIM SINCE THE 1200'S, AND THE EVIL LUCIUS WHO'S LUST AND MURDER SPREES ARE LEGENDARY.
IF YOU HAVEN'T READ THE SERIES YET, WELL, I HOPE YOU'LL GET STARTED.

LET ME FILL YOU IN ON A FEW THINGS, SORT OF BRING YOU UP TO SPEED.
CASSANDRA WAS LIVING WITH HER POLICE OFFICER BOYFRIEND MIKE; THINGS WERE OKAY, BUT NOT THAT HOT AND HEAVY BETWEEN THEM, IF YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN, BUT CASSANDRA LOVED MIKE.
ANYWAY, ONE NIGHT WHEN SHE ARRIVES HOME, MIKE IS STILL AT WORK, BEFORE SHE CAN EVEN SWITCH ON A LIGHT, SHE'S WHACKED ACROSS THE FACE, HER GROCERY BAGS GO FLYING THROUGH THE AIR, SHE LANDS ON HER BACKSIDE, STUNNED. SUDDENLY THIS DARK HAIRED MAN COMES OUT OF THE SHADOWS AND WITHOUT A MOMENTS HESITATION SINKS HIS FANGS INTO HER THROAT.
SHE IS IMMOBILE, WEAK, TEMPLES THROBBING. HE COMMANDS HER TO RISE AND FOLLOW HIM, BUT SHE DEFIES HIM!
SHE'S THE ONLY HUMAN TO RESIST THE VAMPIRE'S BITE. BUT THIS VAMPIRE WHO'S NAME IS CHRISTIAN, ISN'T TAKING NO FOR AN ANSWER. IF SHE WON'T WILLINGLY FOLLOW HIM, HE'LL SIMPLY CARRY HER OUT OF THERE....RIGHT TO HIS GOTHIC CASTLE ONA HILL. THAT'S WHERE SHE MEETS QUENTIN, THE FATHER OF ALL VAMPIRES.
QUENTIN INSTANTLY FALLS IN LOVE WITH THE BEAUTIFUL CASSANDRA; CASSANDRA IS SMITTEN WITH HIM ALTHOUGH SHE'LL BE DAMNED IF SHE'D ADMIT IT. BESIDES, SHE WANTS TO REMAIN FAITHFUL TO MIKE AND SHE DOESN'T WANT TO BE TRANSFORMED INTO A BLOOD SUCKING VAMPIRE.