Please welcome Chelsea Ichaso and her debut novel!

 

Hello everyone, I hope all is well with you. Today, I thought I’d give you a break and share some exciting news! A colleague of mine is getting published! Her debut novel is up for pre-order and I thought this would be a great time to share it with all of you! So, without further ado, here’s my interview with up and coming author Chelsea Ichaso. Take it away Chelsea!

 

• What inspired you to write this story?

I used to teach high school English, and one of the books in our curriculum was A Separate Peace by John Knowles. It’s about two prep school boys whose friendship is torn apart by jealousy. It’s such a painful story, but also one that I feel like everyone can relate to on some level. One day, I thought about what it might look like if a close friendship were destroyed by a crime, rather than jealousy. Eventually, this idea developed into Little Creeping Things.

 

• Why did you choose this genre?

 

YA mystery-thriller was the genre that really lent itself to the type of story I wanted to tell. It started off as more of a suspense idea that took on twists and turns and a cast of suspects. At that point, I knew I had a full-fledged mystery on my hands. Luckily, mystery-thriller is one of my favorite genres to read and watch. Now, it’s also my favorite genre to write.

 

• Tell us about your writing process.

Once I have a new concept, I take a clean notebook and scribble down all my thoughts in streams of consciousness fashion. I end up with anywhere between ten and thirty handwritten pages. Then I try to hone in on the valuable sections of those notes by making a more condensed version. It’s a complete mess, but it works for me. If there’s an evident piece of the puzzle that isn’t fitting, I find a clean page and list any and every solution until something sticks.

When I have a mostly fleshed-out plot, I get on the computer and type a chapter-by-chapter outline. I don’t use formal beat sheets, but my outline will hit on all of the important elements of story structure. I find it easier to add and rearrange parts as I go when the outline is a Word doc rather than handwritten. Once I’m happy with the outline, I save it as a new document and draft right on top of it, deleting sections as they go from bullet points to complete chapters. When the outline has completely disappeared, the novel is done.

 

• Do you have a favorite place to write?

I love coffee shops for a change of scenery. My desk at home is nice, but sometimes being out of the house allows my brain to recharge because the normal distractions of home aren’t there. And good coffee certainly doesn’t hurt the writing process.

 

• How do you handle writer’s block?

I have to be in the right state of mind to come up with an idea. If not, I just get frustrated and waste a lot of time trying to force it. When I feel ready, my process for attacking writer’s block is similar to how I begin a book. I sit and scribble in a notebook for hours until I land on something that excites me. There are also plenty of times that I’ve come up with ideas while traveling. Sitting in a car or on a plane is the perfect time to brainstorm. My husband is not a writer, but he and I will take turns pitching story ideas, the more bizarre the better. Sometimes, the tiniest grain of an idea will come out of those sessions and evolve into workable concept.

 

• What are your hobbies?

I love to read (probably not a huge surprise). I also play soccer. My husband and I are on a co-ed team together, and all three of our kids play. Watching the little ones on the weekends is one of my favorite pastimes.

 

• What are you working on next?

I’m in the editing stages of my second YA thriller. I can’t say much about it yet, but there will be plenty of secrets and lies. I’m also working on a few projects in different genres and age categories because I like to juggle manuscripts. When one draft goes off to my critique partners, I do a round of revisions or begin to draft something else.

 

• Are you a plotter or a pantser?

I’m definitely a plotter. I find it very difficult to write thrillers without any plotting. My outlines aren’t extremely detailed, but I know the basic shape of my books ahead of time. I know the major twists. That said, I love it when a new character development or level to the story arises as I’m drafting, and I always allow myself room to improvise. Some of my favorite scenes and twists originated in the spur of the moment.

 

• What is your favorite book?

It’s impossible to choose, so I’ll list a few. Bird Box by Josh Mallerman is my favorite horror novel. I’m hard to scare, but this one had me genuinely creeped out. I love The Hunger Games trilogy by Suzanne Collins and Shadow and Bone (the entire Grisha trilogy, really) by Leigh Bardugo. A fantastic mystery I read recently was In the Woods by Tana French.

 

10) What is your favorite food?

In and Out Burger. I’ve heard this is a west coast thing, so if you don’t live out here and you get a chance to visit, you absolutely must try it.

Thanks, Chelsea! Now a here’s the cover and blurb of her debut novel and I must say, I’m going to be reading this one very soon!

 

Blurb/Praise:

PRAISE FOR LITTLE CREEPING THINGS
“Everyone’s a suspect, and no one is safe, in this twisty debut from a compelling new voice in YA, Chelsea Ichaso. Don’t miss it!”–Kit Frick, author of See All the Stars, All Eyes on Us, and I Killed Zoe Spanos

“Little Creeping Things is a stunning debut in every sense of the word. From the chilling opening pages to the jaw-dropping final reveal, the pacing is relentless, the twists dizzying. Cass is the best kind of unreliable narrator, delightfully acerbic and hopelessly sincere even when she isn’t telling the truth. Chelsea Ichaso has without a doubt written the breakout thriller of the year.”–Dana Mele, author of People Like Us

“Little Creeping Things, with its cast of creepy and untrustworthy characters, will satisfy the appetites of all manner of mystery fans.”–Booklist

“The reveal…is both well earned and eerie.”–Kirkus Reviews

“Ichaso’s debut is a riveting whodunnit… a psychological thriller worthy of mystery aficionados.”–School Library Journal 

When she was a child, Cassidy Pratt accidentally started a fire that killed her neighbor. She’s pretty sure she didn’t mean to do it, and she’d give anything to forget that awful day. But her town’s bullies, particularly the cruel and beautiful Melody Davenport, have never let her live it down. In Melody’s eyes, Cassidy is a murderer and always will be.

Then Melody goes missing, and Cassidy thinks she may have information about what happened. She knows she should go to the cops, but she recently joked about how much she’d like to get rid of Melody. She even planned the perfect way to do it. And then she gets a chilling text from an unknown number: I’m so glad we’re in this together.

Now it’s up to Cassidy to figure out what’s really going on before the truth behind Melody’s disappearance sets the whole town ablaze.

To order Chelsea’s book, click on one of the links below.

 

Chelseaichaso.com

 

Amazon Link

 

Thanks Cheslea for being a guest today! I’m looking forward to reading your book!

 

 

A Yummy Salsa Recipe for your Labor Day Picnic

Hello everyone, I hope all is well with you! I’m back today with a great salsa recipe that’s healthy too! It’s great for those Labor Day picnics! I call it Marie’s Salsa because she’s the one who gave it to me, I’m sure it goes by another name, but I don’t know what it is! Anyway, without further ado here it is! 🙂

Marie’s Salsa

One can black beans rinsed well and drained

One can corn drained

A few tablespoons of lime juice

Packet of McCormick salsa seasonings, mild—you can find this in produce sections of the store

Half red onion diced fine (I rarely add this)

Green pepper diced fine

Red, orange, or yellow pepper diced fine

Two or three tomatoes diced fine

One avocado diced fine and added close to the time of serving (if timing is not working in your favor, salsa is good without it)

Mix together. If adding the red onion, let dip sit about a half hour before serving

I use Tortilla Chips to dip!

Oh and just so you know! “The Super Spies and the Cat Lady Killer is on sale for $.99! Today’s the last day!

In a small town in Michigan, fifteen-year-old Sarah Cole is stuck spending the summer at her Aunt and Uncle’s with her sister, Lacey. She’s not happy with the situation until she befriends a girl named Jackie. The three girls stumble upon the ruthless murder of a reclusive neighborhood woman and what’s worse? One of the officers investigating the crime believes the girls are responsible for her death. Fearing that this officer will frame them for the murder, the girls organize their own detective squad. They become the Super Spies and start their own investigation. The Super Spies can’t understand why anyone would want to murder the “Cat Lady” until they start digging into her past and discover a horrible crime that happened thirty years ago. They uncover a connection between the two crimes and attempt to bring this information to the police, only to be reprimanded for meddling in the investigation. Not only are the girls upset by the admonition, but they also struggle with the fact that their exuberant investigating could provide a legal loophole allowing the killer to go free. Frustrated by this turn of events, the Super Spies realize it’s up to them to snare the Cat Lady killer. Or die trying…

****On sale only on Amazon, here’s the link. 🙂

Amazon

Please welcome Elaine Cantrell as she shares her Yummy Orange-Pineapple Salad with us!

Each and every Christmas I try to find new and wonderful recipes for my family to enjoy, but this dish is one they demand every year.  Technically, I guess it’s a frozen salad, but it can just as easily be dessert.  It has buttermilk in it which might make some people hesitate to try it, but don’t worry. I promise you won’t know it’s even there. I always serve it in a fancy cut glass bowl and add different garnishes so it looks as good as it tastes.

Orange-Pineapple Salad

1 20 oz can crushed pineapple

1 TBSP sugar

1 6 oz. orange gelatin

c cups buttermilk

1 oz cool whip thawed

1 cup of pecans

Combine pineapple and sugar in a saucepan.

Bring to a boil, stirring occassionally.

Remove from heat, add gelatin, stirring until dissolved.

Fold in whipped topping, chill until firm.

This sounds awesome! Now, let’s learn a little bit more about Elaine’s New Release!

“First Lady Kills President Lovinggood”
December 5, 2018
Thirty years later, Hank Lovinggood embarks on a quest to prove his mother’s innocence and punish the killers who took his family from him. Together Hank and lovely physicist Dr. Kathryn Sinclair confront an implacable, twisted, and merciless enemy who’ll do whatever it takes to hide the truth forever.

 

 

 

Here are the buy links to Elaine’s book! It sounds like a great story! 🙂

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/blue-52-elaine-cantrell/1117552083?ean=2940148981893

http://www.amazon.com/Blue-52-Elaine-Cantrell-ebook/dp/B00H1MHC24/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1386858885&sr=1-1&keywords=blue+52+by+elaine+cantrell

 

Now let’s learn a little bit more about Elaine!

Elaine Cantrell was born and raised in South Carolina.  She has a Master’s Degree in Personnel Services from ClemsonUniversity and is a member of Alpha Delta Kappa, an international honorary sorority for women educators.  She is also a member of Romance Writers of America and EPIC authors.  She is married to her college sweetheart and has two sons and three grandchildren.  Besides writing she enjoys, quilting, gardening, and collecting vintage Christmas ornaments.  You can contact Elaine at her web site at http://www.elainecantrell.com.

Thanks for sharing your recipe and your book with us today!

It’s a Thanksgiving Blog Hop!

Hello Everyone! I hope all is well with you! Some of my colleagues and I have put together a Thanksgiving Blog Hop just for you! There will be prizes so check out everyone’s site! 🙂

All of us are listing five things that we are grateful for this year. Check it out and share your thoughts! Let me know what you’re grateful for! I’d love to hear from you!

 

Five Things that I’m Thankful For

 1. My wonderful husband and my two boys. 🙂 They are my inspiration and keep me headed in the right direction.

2. My awesome publisher ASTRAEA PRESS for accepting my manuscripts. And the awesome editors that edit my books! Your guidance has been instrumental in my stories.

3. The wonderful AUTHORS that I’ve met in the publishing industry. Their help and encouragement has been a real blessing.

4. My Critique Group THE GRAND RAPIDS WRITERS EXCHANGE. They’ve been instrumental in helping me get my manuscripts in shape.

5. Last but certainly not least my FANS and READERS! Without you my stories would be sitting on the e-book shelves gathering dust!

So to celebrate my gratitude I’m going to give away a signed paperback of “The Super Spies and the Cat Lady Killer”! Whoo Hoo! 🙂 It would make a great Christmas Present for the Tween/Teen in your life! 🙂

How do you enter this giveaway? That is a very good question. You can enter by posting a comment about what you are thankful for and that will count as one entry. You can also enter by tweeting and sharing about the giveaway and then posting the tweet or share in the comment section at the end of this post. Each tweet and share equals two entries. So, if you tweet 4 times…you’re entered 8 times.

That’s it! That’s all you have to do! 🙂

The winner will be announced on November 23^rd! I will post the winner on my blog, facebook, and twitter. I will also send the winner an e-mail. 🙂

Here’s the cover and blurb for “The Super Spies and the Cat Lady Killer”.

This book opens in a small town in Michigan where fifteen-year-old Sarah Cole is stuck spending the summer at her Aunt and Uncle’s with her sister, Lacey. She’s not happy with the situation until she befriends a girl named Jackie. The three girls stumble upon the ruthless murder of a reclusive neighborhood woman. One of the officers investigating the crime believes the girls are responsible for her death. Fearing that this officer will frame them for the murder, the girls organize their own detective squad. They become the Super Spies and start their own fact-finding mission.  The Super Spies can’t understand why anyone would want to murder the “Cat Lady” until they start digging into her past and discover a horrible crime that happened thirty years ago. They uncover a connection between the two crimes and attempt to bring this information to the police, only to be reprimanded for meddling in the inquest. Not only are the girls upset by the admonition, but they also struggle with the fact that their exuberant investigating could provide a legal loophole allowing the killer to go free. To make matters worse, the police don’t even believe them. Frustrated by this turn of events, the Super Spies realize it’s up to them to snare the Cat Lady killer, or die trying…

The next stop on this blog hop is E.A. West’s blog! Check it out! The link is below.

http://thewestcorner.wordpress.com/2012/11/19/thanksgiving-blog-hop/

Thanks again for stopping by and I hope you have an awesome Thanksgiving! 🙂

Please Welcome Sherry Gloag as she talks about “Vidal’s Honor”!

 

Hello Everyone! I hope all is well with you today! I’ve got Sherry Gloag here and she’s talking a little bit about herself and her new release “Vidal’s Honor”. Thanks so much for being here today Sherry! 🙂 Take it away!

 

 

I have loved reading for as long as I can remember, and I discovered Georgette Heyer very early on, and have always had copies of her books on my shelves, both virtual and real.  So, in a way, I suppose, given I write romance, that I would one day try my hand at a Regency Romance.

Vidal’s Honor opens on the morning of the battle of Salamanca in July 1812.  Not having much confidence in my ability to research my subject I wasn’t sure how I’d get on.  Suffice to say, it was a pleasant surprise.  I even spent time researching the weather in various parts of Spain and France, and yes they, unlike the English, do have weather records going back that far.

There is a scene when my hero and heroine, Lord Charles Vidal and Lady Honor Beaumont are setting out to cross the English Channel, and although on that particular night, in reality it rained, I took the licence of turning it into a storm with huge waves, thunder and lightning.  It was great fun.

It often happens that secondary characters play a bigger part than expected and when your story is ‘finished’ they demand you start all over again and write their story, and so it is with my secondary characters, Juan and Consuela.  Because I am a ‘pantser’ writer, I’m not sure how or where their story is going beyond a very rough outline, but already I’m having the same fun with this story as I did with my Christmas Regency Romance, Vidal’s honor, published by Astraea Press on 31^st October.

 

Vidal’s Honor

Blurb:

When plunged into a world of spies, agents and espionage during the Peninsula wars, Honor, Lady Beaumont, flees for her life when the French capture her husband at Salamanca, and relies on his batman to arrange her safe passage back to England.

Viscount Charles Vidal is ordered by Robert Dumas, the First Lord of the Admiralty, to travel to Spain and escort the only woman he’s ever loved, Lord Devlin Beaumont’s widow back home before the French discover her whereabouts.

Their journey is fraught by danger, least of all knowing whether they are surrounded by friends or foe. Will they survive long enough to explore the possibility of a future together or will whispers of treason be enough to see Honor dispatched to Tyburn first?

Here’s an excerpt from this very intriguing book! 🙂

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Will whispers of treason be enough to see Honor dispatched to Tyburn or can
Vidal save her again?

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

 

While Vidal joked with his cousin, the viscount scanned the room. The smell of fine wine, whiskey and cigar smoke blended into a rich aroma that was as much a part of Whites as the card games, the background chatter, and outbreaks of lewd laughter from the younger members of the club.
One member in particular interested Vidal tonight, and he watched Robert Dundas, second Viscount Melville, and First Lord of the Admiralty, take leave of his friends and head in his direction.

He wondered why the man spent the best part of the night watching his every move, and paused in the act of fobbing his snuff box while he waited for the viscount to join him.

“Take a walk with me?” Although couched as a question, Vidal noted the quiet steel of command in the other man’s voice. Dundas laid a hand on his arm; a companionable gesture for anyone interested enough to observe the two men leaving the club together. “I believe I live not far beyond your own house. I’d appreciate your company, and this is not the place for such a discussion. ”

With an indolent twist of the wrist Vidal returned the modish lacquered box, unopened, to his pocket and nodded agreement. A man’s club was no setting for private conversation, and it was plain the man wanted to talk about something away from flapping ears.

Together they strolled across the room stopping to take leave of several mutual friends.

Buy Links:

Astraea Press: http://www.astraeapress.com/#ecwid:category=662267&mode=product&product=16090214

 

Amazon.com: http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_2?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=Sherry+Gloag

 

Amazon.co.uk: http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_c_0_10?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=sherry+gloag&sprefix=sherry+glo%2Caps%2C251

 

 

 

This sounds like a great story Sherry!

You can find Sherry at these social media sites:

Web: http://www.sherrygloag.com

Blog: http://sherrygloagtheheartofromance.blogspot.co.uk/

FB: http://www.facebook.com/sherry.gloag

twitter: https://twitter.com/SherryGloag

Thanks Sherry for sharing with us today!

The Super Spies Halloween Party!

 

*******THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW OVER. THE WINNER WILL BE ANNOUNCED SHORTLY! :)***************

 

 

 

Hello Everyone! Welcome to the Super Spies Halloween Party! We’re giving away a KINDLE FIRE by playing a game called “Bobbing for Books” and here’s how you enter to win!

The first way to enter is by tweeting and Facebook sharing about the event and posting the tweet or share in the comment section below. Each tweet or share counts as one entry. So, the more tweets you do the more entries you have. 🙂

The second way to enter is by purchasing one of the participating authors books and posting the title and confirmation code in a comment below. This purchase counts as two entries, so if a contestant buys two books, they are entered four times in the giveaway. 🙂

The winner will be announced on October 30^th. I will send them an e-mail and also post on Facebook and Twitter. 🙂

****Please be aware that the KINDLE FIRE will be gifted from Amazon and sent directly from there. Therefore, if the winner receives a damaged prize, myself and the participating authors are not held liable for any damages. The winner must work with Amazon to get a replacement.

Now let the tweeting and sharing begin! Good luck to all of you! This is going to be a fun party! And please scroll down and check out all the books! There’s something here for everyone! Romance, Young Adult, and even self help! All good clean reads! 🙂

Here are the participating authors books and buylinks and if you don’t see something interesting here stop by their blog and check out their other books! 🙂

“The Super Spies and the Cat Lady Killer”

By: Lisa Orchard

An innocent game of Truth or Dare spins out of control when Sarah Cole discovers the dead body of the Cat Lady and what’s worse? The lead detective believes they’re responsible for the old woman’s death. Sarah realizes it’s up to The Super Spies to snare the Cat Lady Killer…or die trying.. A great Halloween read!

Astraea Press: http://www.astraeapress.com/#ecwid:mode=product&product=10078468

Amazon:  http://www.amazon.com/Super-Spies-Lady-Killer-ebook/dp/B007JZH61K

Barnes and Noble:  http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-super-spies-and-the-cat-lady-killer-lisa-orchard/1109518725?ean=2940014338202

“Hauntings of the Heart”

By Joselyn Vaughn

When lost love shows up on your doorstep, what do you do?  Minnie Schultz slams the door in his face.  With the help of some paranormal investigators, an Elvis impersonator and a couple of nosey friends, can Minnie and Gordon find the future they were meant to have?

Astraea Press: http://astraeapress.com/#ecwid:category=662245&mode=product&product=7355585

Amazon:  http://www.amazon.com/Hauntings-of-the-Heart-ebook/dp/B005Z8WJRY/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1319568032&sr=1-1

Barnes and Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/hauntings-of-the-heart-joselyn-vaughn/1106922258?ean=2940013221796&itm=2&usri=hauntings+of+the+heart

Find more of Joselyn’s books here: http://joselynvaughn.com

“Abiding Echoes”

By: Kay Springsteen

Love is family…

Love is endless…

Love is timeless…

Love is abiding…

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Abiding-Echoes-Orsons-Folly-ebook/dp/B008MRR876/ref=la_B004RZUWLG_1_9?ie=UTF8&qid=1350052539&sr=1-9

Barnes and Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/abiding-echoes-kay-springsteen/1112162718?ean=2940014969529

Find more of Kay’s books here: http://kayspringsteen.wordpress.com/

“Vala Appointed”

By: J. F. Jenkins

Identical twins Anj and Zes Willam have always been considered odd, even in a world where myth is real. Their magic is powerful and intense, as well as their secrets. None more so than Anj, who has the biggest secret of them all.

Barnes and Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/c/j.f.-jenkins

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/J.F.-enkins/e/B004P3HB6O/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_pop_3

“Key to Love”

By: Meg Mims

When an artist finds a small metal object – a piece of a key- and uses it in a new collage, will it unlock her future happiness?

http://www.amazon.com/The-Key-Love-Mims-ebook/dp/B0074NI7K6/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1350321612&sr=8-1&keywords=the+key+to+love

“Cruel Justice”

By: Mel Comley

The headless body of a wealthy widow is discovered decomposing in Chelling Forest. Detective Inspector Lorne Simpkins and her partner, DS Pete Childs are assigned to the case. A few days later another victim, this time a young girl, is discovered. Who could the killer be and what’s the connection between the two victims?

Amazon/ US: http://www.amazon.com/Cruel-Justice-Book-one-ebook/dp/B005QOY4FM

Amazon/UK:  http://www.amazon.co.uk/Cruel-Justice-Book-one-ebook/dp/B005QOY4FM

Find more of Mel’s books here: http://melcomley.blogspot.fr/

“Moonlight on the Palms”

By: Lisa Greer

When professor Astrid Kent’s estranged mother dies, she returns to her childhood home of La Casa De La Luz to set things right. But secrets, murder, and her mother’s ex-husband—Astrid’s former fiance before she fled Texas in shame—threaten to entangle her at every turn, even as another man vies for her heart.

Amazon:  http://www.amazon.com/Moonlight-on-the-Palms-ebook/dp/B00578UTLU/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1326205480&sr=1-1

Astraea Press: http://www.astraeapress.com/#ecwid:mode=product&product=3906042

Barnes and Noble:  http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/moonlight-on-the-palms-lisa-greer/1103861118

Find more of Lisa’s books here: http://www.lisalgreer.com/

“Prepare to Receive More”

By: Benecia Ponder

A Step-by-Step Guide to Forming Your Prosperity Partnership with God.

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B009BT40DY/ref=as_li_tf_til?tag=benepond-20&camp=14573&creative=327641&linkCode=as1&creativeASIN=B009BT40DY&adid=0VEXNXSBKN1XYZJHWEY7&&ref-refURL=http://preparetoreceivemore.com/

“The Trouble with Charlie”

By: Catherine Bennett

Love. Desire. A psycho bent on revenge. But can Charlie Reynolds recognize the most dangerous of the three?

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00849AM9I

Barnes and Noble:  http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-trouble-with-charlie-catherine-bennett/1110924132?ean=2940014458948

Astraea Press:  http://www.astraeapress.com/#ecwid:mode=product&product=10046834

“At What Cost”

By: J. Andersen

When sixteen year old Maggie Reynolds discovers she’s pregnant at the beginning of Junior year, she’s scared to death to tell her parents for fear of what they’ll do. Luckily, her boyfriend suggests another alternative: abortion, but will it really solve all her problems like she hopes it will?

Amazon:  http://www.amazon.com/At-What-Cost-ebook/dp/B008BEDPPO

Barnes and Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/at-what-cost-j-andersen/1111557851?ean=2940014771320

Astraea Press: http://www.astraeapress.com/#ecwid:mode=product&product=12328251

“The Legacy”

By: Patricia Kiyono

A family finds and embraces its samurai heritage. The Legacy introduces the Tanaka family, whose story begins in The Samurai’s Garden, available beginning November 6 from your favorite ebook distributor!

http://www.amazon.com/Patricia-Kiyono/e/B0067PSM5C/ref=sr_tc_2_0?qid=1348917923&sr=1-2-ent

“The Last Time Keepers”

By: Sharon Ledwith

When Amanda Sault and her four classmates are caught in a major food fight at school, they are given the choice of suspension or yard duty. It was a no-brainer. A two-week crash course in landscaping leads the kids to discover a weathered stone arch buried in an overgrown backyard. Instead of a forgotten lawn ornament, it turns out to be an ancient time portal from the lost continent of Atlantis.

Musa Publishing: http://musapublishing.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=5&products_id=277

Amazon:  http://www.amazon.com/Last-Timekeepers-Arch-Atlantis-ebook/dp/B0084AKSP0

Barnes and Noble:  http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-last-timekeepers-and-the-arch-of-atlantis-x2019-sharon-ledwith/1111074347?ean=2940014363952

“There your Heart will be Also”

By: Felicia Rogers

The Renaissance Hearts Series – Begin the adventure with Sarra and Cedric.

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/There-Heart-Renaissance-Series-ebook/dp/B005XSEQ7C

Barnes and Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/there-your-heart-will-be-also-felicia-rogers/1106848770?ean=2940013291041

Astraea Press: http://www.astraeapress.com/#ecwid:mode=product&product=5907188

Find more of Felicia’s books here: http://feliciarogersauthor.weebly.com/

“A Collie Rescue”

By: Lindsay Downs

Former Army Sergeant Sandi Charleston, diagnosed with PTSD and homeless barely survives day to day. By a miracle of fate she meets Taz, a uniquely special collie, who helps turn her life around.

Astraea Press http://www.astraeapress.com/#ecwid:category=662245&mode=product&product=13897850

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Collie-Rescue-Emily-Dahill-ebook/dp/B008V4JP6C

Barnes and Noble:  http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-collie-rescue-lindsay-downs/1112437116?ean=2940014828376

Find more of Lindsay Downs books here: www.murdersandmysteries.wordpress.com

“A New Dream”

By: Elaine Cantrell

Former NFL player Matt McCallum and baker Violet Emerson find a common dream for their lives, but a loose end from Matt’s past returns to jeopardize their future. Will love be enough to save their new dream before it turns into a nightmare?

Astraea Press: http://www.astraeapress.com/#ecwid:mode=product&product=2676585

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/A-New-Dream-ebook/dp/B004TAWHO4

Barnes and Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/new-dream-elaine-cantrell/1102710733?ean=2940012395245

“Psychic”

By: John Warnock

What if you awoke one day and discovered you had ESP? Would you feel blessed? Or would you feel cursed?

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Psychic-ebook/dp/B001ECQLCE

Barnes and Noble:  http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/psychic-john-warnock/1101224535?ean=2940011111563

Find more of John’s books here: http://www.johnwarnock.info/

“Secrets of Catalpa Hall”

By: Lori Lapekes

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Secrets-of-Catalpa-Hall-ebook/dp/B007WYPIGS

Barnes and Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/secrets-of-catalpa-hall-lori-lapekes/1110362265?ean=2940014565875

Astraea Press: http://www.astraeapress.com/#ecwid:mode=product&product=11343670

Find more of Lori’s books here: http://lorilapekes.com/

“No Job for a Woman”

By: Sherry Gloag

Circumstances demand Julian and Deborah learn to work together and Julian dares to dream that he might gain the love of the only person he’s ever given his heart to.

But will Deborah live long enough to discover that by releasing everything she values, she will gain everything her heart desires?

Amazon:  http://www.amazon.com/No-Job-Woman-ebook/dp/B0095II45G

Barnes and Noble:  http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/no-job-for-a-woman-sherry-gloag/1112754572?ean=2940015111361

Find more of Sherry’s books here: http://www.sherrygloag.com/

“Crossing the Deep”

By: Kelly Martin

Sixteen year old Rachel Harker expects the hiking trip in the mountains to be short and painless. Four days later, injured and scared, she just prays to make it home alive.

Astraea Press: http://www.astraeapress.com/#ecwid:mode=product&product=15502342

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Crossing-The-Deep-ebook/dp/B009NWGMMQ

Barnes and Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/crossing-the-deep-kelly-martin/1113215706?ean=2940015565096

“Persephone”

By Kaitlin Bevins

There are worse things than death, worse people too.

The “talk” was bad enough, but how many teens get told that they’re a goddess? When her mom tells her, Persephone is sure her mother has lost her mind. It isn’t until Boreas, the god of winter, tries to abduct her that she realizes her mother was telling the truth. Hades rescues her, and in order to safely bring Persephone to the Underworld he marks her as his bride. But Boreas will stop at nothing to get Persephone. Despite her growing feelings for Hades, Persephone wants to return to the living realm. Persephone must find a way to defeat Boreas and reclaim her life.

Amazon:  http://www.amazon.com/Persephone-ebook/dp/B008HYPD58

Barnes and Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/persephone-kaitlin-bevis/1111973897?ean=2940014686051

Find more of Kaitlin’s books here: http://kaitlinbevis.com/

Please welcome Award Winning Author Meg Mims!

Hello Everyone! I hope all is well with you today! I’ve got Award Winning Author Meg Mims here and she’s talking about some projects that she’s working on! Take it away Meg!

Although I’m primarily interested in the 1800’s, post-Civil War era up to the 1920’s, I have written a medieval “short” story that will become a novella or novel when I get the time to continue writing it.

Hopefully next year. I chose to include it in the Hazard Yet Forward charity anthology that benefits a fellow writer and friend, Donna Munro, in helping to pay medical bills while she’s fighting breast cancer. The authors in the collection are all past or present members of the Seton Hill University Writing Popular Fiction program, either published authors, students or mentors. (I graduated with my MA in WPF back in January 2010, signed my first contract in April of 2011, and my second in 2012.) The HYF anthology is multi-genre (and some of the horror stories are not for the faint at heart) but my story, SEAFIRE, is a “clean” YA fantasy.

I’m committed to writing “clean” fiction — no cussing, no “pink parts” or sex scenes. I can always include emotions and kisses,even a bit of suggestive stuff, but to me the real story lies in the plot and characters’ growth. I’m also committed to “cozy” mystery, so while the dead bodies may pile up, I’m not getting into the graphic stuff. Again, to me the story matters more.

I started writing a version of Seafire as a straight historical long ago and became bogged down in the research. While sharing the story during a Seton Hill critique workshop, I admitted to not being interested in writing the rest of the novel because it would be too difficult to maintain the historical accuracy. Someone said, “So make it a fantasy!” And that stuck with me. I discovered how much fun it is to “build” your own world — so Seafire takes place in a world similar to medieval France. I am looking forward to writing the rest of it!

Check out my 2012 Spur Award-winning western historical mystery, Double Crossing, and my contemporary romance, The Key to Love.

I’m working on the sequel to Double Crossing now. I also have plans to write a Christmas Regency novella. Thanks, Lisa, for having me on your blog!  Please LIKE my book’s Facebook pages — Double Crossing and The Key to Love, my author page. For more info, check out my website and follow me on Twitter!

BUY LINKS:  Hazard Yet Forward — Amazon

                    Double Crossing  — Astraea Press, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Smashwords

                    The Key to Love  — Astraea Press, Amazon, B&N, Smashwords

Book Blurb – SEAFIRE

Angelica, spoiled and temperamental, hopes to marry a wealthy baron of Aquon until a unique gem

intrigues her in the town’s marketplace. Once she possesses it, her life will be forever changed.

Excerpt from SEAFIRE:

My life changed in an instant on a sunny summer’s day. God’s truth, I never realized the sheltered childhood I’d led for nearly fourteen years would come to such an end. My eye had caught a simple bauble on a black velvet scrap, a dazzling stone of blue fire swirling with hints of green, as if the sea itself had invaded its depths. That weakness sealed my fate.

The heat of that lazy afternoon baked our little town of Mossaic with its uneven paving stones, shimmered between colorful swags of cloth that shaded the stalls. I breathed the tangy scent of lemons and oranges. Sugared dates and figs glistened in their square boxes. I passed the cages of clucking hens, the baskets of eels and fish, and dodged a horse cart creaking through the square. People of the town mingled and exchanged gossip and bawdy jokes over fresh crusty loaves of bread. Flies and honeybees buzzed everywhere.

But everything faded as I stood mesmerized before the jeweler’s bench.

His one eye surveyed me, the other stitched closed from an old wound perhaps, or some forgotten battle. Patched, muddy clothing hung on his skeletal frame, and one wrist ended in a misshapen claw—thumb and forefinger, and mere stumps for the other digits. I had instinctively recoiled when I first stopped. The old man shrunk into himself, as if aware of my hesitation.

That lovely blue sparkle beckoned me forward. I reached out a finger to touch its faceted surface. It burned my flesh. Eyeing the red patch on my skin, I wondered at the surge of energy that had jolted through my veins. Or had that been my imagination?

Get to know Catherine Bennett, Author of “The Trouble with Charlie”

Hello Everyone! I hope all is well with you! I’m interviewing Catherine Bennett today, so read on she’s got some pretty intriguing answers! 🙂 Take it away Catherine!

1. What inspired you to write your Book?

I liked to walk in an affluent neighborhood a few miles from where I live. It had nice walking trails, beautiful homes and probably a few secrets that would work well as a Romantic Suspense. The story developed from there.

2. Why should readers read your book?

It is like a chocolate bar. Once you’ve had a little square of it, you want to devour the entire thing! No seriously, I LOVE my characters (even the cat has personality) and the intrigue will keep you guessing until the end.

3. Tell us a little bit about your writing process.

Usually, I begin with random thoughts on post-it-notes, and then move onto a   notebook. Once I begin typing, watch out! Once I truly commit to a story, it is liberating, but until then it is tedious work.

4. What stage of the writing process do you find the most difficult?

Getting started! With “Charlie” I had to research a lot of police procedure to make the story believable. The editing is tough as well. I couldn’t believe so much had to be chopped. I think that part is a difficult process for every author.

5. What’s next for Catherine Bennett the author?

Right now a few thoughts are in the post-it-note stage and one idea has made it to a written outline. Everything seems to be leading to another Romantic Suspense, but then there’s the dreaded research!

Fun questions:

1. Tell us something that no one else knows about you.

I am somewhat of a junk food hoarder and I’ve been known to hide my snacks  in odd places so no one else will eat them.

2. What kind of books do you enjoy reading?

I like English mysteries such as Agatha Christie and Anne Perry. Amanda Quick writes captivating historical Romantic Suspense. I also like fantasy such as “The Lord of the Rings” and “The Chronicles of Narnia” and cartoons like “The Far Side”. Oh, and I like to peruse books about gardening and dogs.

3. Who’s your favorite author?

Agatha Christie is right up there.

4. What’s your favorite guilty pleasure?

I enjoy going out to eat and would go every night if my husband wasn’t such a good cook.

5. If you could interview one celebrity who would it be and why?

You served up the hardest question for the end! My husband would say Bobby Flay so I could get some cooking tips (I am an awful cook) but I would say author Anne Perry. First of all, she is from Scotland and I would be entranced by her accent and second, she is a wonderful mystery writer.

Thank you, Lisa for allowing me to spend time with your readers. I’ve really enjoyed it!

All the Best,

Catherine

You’re welcome Catherine, thanks for taking the time to answer my questions. And readers here’s the cover and blurb for Catherine’s book along with the buy links! 🙂

Cover Blurb:

Love. Desire. A psycho bent on revenge. But can Charlie Reynolds recognize the most dangerous of the three?

Since being out on her own at eighteen, Charlotte “Charlie” Reynolds is a street-smart “good” girl who hides her desire for love and security behind her feisty and independent personality. She just never expected a more noxious hero than wealthy, self-consumed Evan Gardner, the CEO and founder of Valley Tech., a successful software company in Los Angeles. From the moment Evan rescues her from an apparent random attack, their attraction for each other bubbles just below the surface of all-out passion.

Buy Links:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00849AM9I/ref=as_li_tf_il?ie=UTF8&tag=cathebenne-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B00849AM9I

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-trouble-with-charlie-catherine-bennett/1110924132?ean=2940014458948

http://astraeapress.com/#ecwid:mode=product&product=10046834

Where To Find Catherine:

http://catherinebennett.org/

http://twitter.com/author_cbennett

http://pinterest.com/authorcbennett/

Sweet Saturday Sample “The Super Spies and the Cat Lady Killer”

Hello Everyone! I hope all is well with you. Today I’ve got an excerpt from the first book in the Super Spies series “The Super Spies and the Cat Lady Killer”. So take a look and let me know what you think!

The house sat hunkered down as if it were tensed to spring like a cat stalking a mouse. Sarah shuddered at the thought of going up on the porch and she chewed on her thumbnail.

Looking behind her, Sarah studied the church facing the Cat Lady’s home. It was a strong structure built of huge stones. She could tell it was as old as the town itself and its presence made her feel safe. Motioning for Jackie and Lacey to follow her, she moved from the sidewalk to the huge oak tree growing on the church’s lawn. The girls hid behind it, peeking out at the witch’s home.

“Are you still going to do it?” Jackie teased.

“Yep.”

“Do you think she’s inside?” Lacey asked wide-eyed.

Sarah smirked at her. “Where else would she be? I hear she never leaves her house.”

“Be nice.” Jackie smacked Sarah’s arm.

“What are you waiting for? Are you afraid of the witch?” Lacey asked as she stared at the house.

“She’s not a witch. She’s just a freak, that’s all.”

“Well, if she’s not …then what are you waiting for?” Jackie snickered.

“I just want to make sure the coast is clear.”

“Hey, you guys, look at all the cats,” Lacey whispered. She pointed at the clusters of felines lolling about on the porch and walking in the yard. “There has to be at least twenty of them.”

“Yeah, that’s why she’s called the Cat Lady.” Sarah rolled her eyes and then felt the sting from Jackie’s slap.

“Do you think she put a spell on those cats?” Lacey asked with a wide-eyed expression, twirling her hair with her finger.

“Could be,” Sarah snickered. “Or maybe she just…you know…gives them food.”

“Knock it off, Sarah,” Lacey glared at her sister.

Sarah stuck her tongue out at her. “Okay, I’m going for it. I’ll meet you back here.”

“Cool beans,” Jackie said.

“Cool beans? Is this town still in the nineties?” Sarah teased.

“Shut up.” Jackie smacked her arm again.

“This is physical abuse.” Sarah rubbed her arm, trying to appear injured.

Jackie laughed. “Be thankful I like hanging out with you.”

“All I have to do is ring her doorbell, right?” Sarah poked her head out from behind the tree. She noticed the tomato pulp still clinging to the siding and peered up and down the street for the notorious Wykowski boys.

“That’s right,” Jackie chuckled.

Sarah took a deep breath and sprinted across the street. She stopped at the porch stairs. A group of cats were sunning themselves on the steps—they meowed at her as if they were hungry. Jumping when one of them rubbed against her legs, she bent down and stroked its back, never taking her eyes off of the house.

Sarah petted the cat, while she worked up the courage to climb the stairs. She heard the loud purr of the contented feline and it eased her anxiety. All of a sudden, she felt a hand squeeze her arm. Her heart leapt in her chest and she let out a yelp.

Turning, she spied Jackie. “I almost peed my pants!”

Jackie giggled.

“What are you doing here?” Sarah muttered and gave Jackie the evil eye.

“I couldn’t stay behind the tree and miss all the action.”

Sarah glanced around her and pointed to some overgrown bushes in front of the porch. “You can hide over there.”

Out of the corner of her eye, Sarah spied her sister running toward them and stifled a groan.

“I didn’t want to stand by myself,” Lacey whimpered, slightly out of breath. She tugged nervously on the hem of her T-shirt as she eyed the house.

Sarah groaned and her shoulders slumped as if she carried a heavy burden. She sighed and pointed at the bushes again. “You hide over there with Jackie and be quiet.”

Sarah waited until the other girls were out of sight, and then climbed the stairs. Stopping when she reached the porch, Sarah took some deep breaths before stepping onto the sagging stoop. Stepping gingerly, she hoped the porch would support her.  Her stomach clenched when it groaned. She took another step and then another, the porch complaining with every footfall. Halfway across the stoop, she heard the girls behind the bushes.

“She’s almost to the door.” Lacey said in a low voice.

Sarah bit her lip, stifling the disapproving remark dancing on the tip of her tongue. Instead, she turned and glared at the bushes, willing its occupants to shut up. She made eye contact with Jackie, who quickly ducked behind the shrubs, pulling Lacey with her.

What in the world is she doing?” Lacey asked.

“Shhh,” Jackie responded.

Sarah shook her head and continued her journey. She felt Jackie and Lacey watching her as she crept toward the door. Reaching the entryway, she was surprised to find the storm door wide open. The only barrier between the Cat Lady and the rest of the world was a flimsy screen door hanging askew on its hinges.

Alarm bells rang in Sarah’s head—this has got to be out of character for someone who never leaves their home. She turned back and whispered to the other girls. “Hey!”

Jackie poked her head out. “What?”

“The storm door’s open.”

“So?”

“So…what do I do?”

“Duh…Ring the door bell.”

Sarah shrugged and pushed the doorbell. It let out an irritating buzz and she had the feeling it had been broken long ago and never fixed. She dashed down the stairs.  The cats scattered, alarmed by the sudden activity. Reaching the shrubs, Sarah hid with her sister and Jackie.

Gasping for breath, Sarah waited for a reaction from the old woman. Her heart pummeled her ribs and she pressed her hand to her chest to calm it.

After a few minutes, Sarah started to pace. “Well…nothing’s happened.” She peeked out from behind the shrub and saw the screen door hanging ajar. “I bet she’s not even home. I’m going to try again.”

Jackie shrugged. “Be careful, remember she’s a witch.”

Sarah shook her head, and then peered out from behind the shrubs. Once again, she climbed the stairs. She was braver this time and it didn’t take her as long to make it to the door.

She looked inside, her heart lurching in her chest. She tiptoed to the picture window and peered through it. Gasping, she ran back to the entryway. Pulling it open, she lunged inside.

Sarah stared, unable to tear herself away.  Shock ran through her body like an electrical current as she eyed the scene before her. The crumpled form of the Cat Lady lay on the living room floor, just inside the door. No life flickered in the old woman’s staring eyes. Her mouth gaped open in a silent scream and her hands were up around her head as if she were warding off blows. Turning away, Sarah gagged as the coppery scent of blood assaulted her. There was blood splattered everywhere, on the wall, on the carpet and under the Cat Lady’s body.

Suddenly, Sarah’s throat constricted and she gasped for breath. Fearing she would faint, she stumbled back out the door and collided with Jackie and Lacey on the porch.

Jackie grabbed Sarah’s arm and shook her. “What are you doing? Are you crazy? I never said to go inside!”

Sarah didn’t speak—she just stared blankly at the porch.

Jackie shook her again. “Are you under the Cat Lady’s spell?”

Lacey whimpered. “Hey, Sarah….can you hear me? Sarah?”

“She’s under the Cat Lady’s spell,” Jackie said waving her hand in front of Sarah’s eyes.

“Oh my—,” Sarah moaned and clutched Jackie’s arm.

“What is it?” Jackie shook her again. “Speak…say something!”

“Th-th-the C-C-Cat Lady, sh-sh-she’s,” Sarah stuttered.

“She’s what?” Jackie demanded.

“Sh-she’s dead.”

Sweet Saturday Samples

Here’s the cover and excerpt from my new release “The Super Spies and the High School Bomber”!

Chapter One

A whoosh of roiling hot air lifted Sarah Cole and flung her against the kitchen wall like a fumbled football. At the same time, the windows burst into millions of pieces, showering everything with tiny shards of glass. Sarah crumpled to the floor, still clutching the phone. She lay there stunned, unable to inhale or exhale.

“Sarah! Sarah!” her younger sister, Lacey, screamed from the bathroom, where she’d been drying her hair.

The ringing in her ears was so intense, Sarah could barely hear her. Groaning, she opened her eyes and saw only red through her right one. Dread rippled through her body.

“Sarah! Sarah!” Lacey cried again.

Sarah dropped the phone, and put her hand up to her eye. She fingered the area gently before pulling her hand away. Blood.

“Lacey,” she croaked, unable to manage more than that.

“Sarah! Where are you?”

“The kitchen,” Sarah said, finally able to breathe. She blinked her eyes twice and her vision cleared. Relief flooded her body and she wilted against the floor.

“Holy Moley!” Lacey shrieked.

Sarah jumped at the sound of her voice. She didn’t realize Lacey had come up the stairs and into the kitchen. The ringing in her ears was almost gone.

“You’re bleeding!”

“No kidding,” Sarah said, covering her right eye with her hand and glaring at Lacey with her uncovered one. She brushed her shoulder length blonde hair away from her face and gasped at the blood running down her arm.

“We’ve got to get you to the hospital!” Lacey screamed in a voice edged with hysteria.

“Stop freaking out!” Sarah gave Lacey the old one-eyed glare again.

“Sarah, there’s blood everywhere,” her sister whimpered as she wrung her hands. She gazed around her. “What happened? Did our furnace blow up or something?”

“I don’t think so.” Sarah shook her head, dust particles and slivers of glass cascaded to the floor. She furrowed her brow and absentmindedly brushed off her clothes. “I think something exploded outside. Help me up.”

Lacey held out her hand to Sarah and pulled her into a sitting position.

Blinking, Sarah gazed around the kitchen. On most days it was a sunny room with pineapple wallpaper and pine cabinets. It was the most popular room in the house—everyone congregated there during the holidays.

Sarah blinked again. Dust floated through the air and glass littered the yellow linoleum floor. She groaned and turned her attention to her arm.

As she examined the blood running down it, another wave of panic flooded through her body. Sarah’s legs wobbled when she stood and she stumbled as she reached for a kitchen towel that lay on the counter. She used it to blot her eye. When she pulled the towel away, she was shocked to see the amount of blood that had soaked into it. Sarah gulped, trying to swallow her fear as beads of sweat broke out on her forehead.

With unsteady feet, Sarah stumbled into the hall where a mirror hung.

She was afraid to look. Taking some deep breaths, she  stared into the cracked mirror and noticed a cut in her eyebrow. The amount of blood that seeped from the cut was enormous compared to its small size.

Lacey walked past Sarah on her way to the den. The crunch of glass under her sister’s feet caught Sarah’s attention, and she sighed.

Thank goodness we

had our shoes on. A wave of relief washed over her body and she exhaled another deep sigh. The girls had been getting ready for school when the windows exploded and covered everything with glass.

“Sarah, come here! You’ve got to see this!” Lacey yelled.

Sarah whirled around and spotted her sister walking from the den—her eyes were round and full of shock.

“I think all the windows have been smashed. Come and look.”

Holding the towel against her cut, Sarah followed her into the den. “Holy crap!”

She gazed into the room. Shards of glass covered the furniture and the floor. The sun streamed through the window, shining on the jagged bits embedded in the carpet. It appeared as if tiny diamonds were buried within the fibers.

“What in the world happened?”

Sarah shook her head. “I have no idea.”

The shrill ring of the phone made Sarah jump. She dashed back to the kitchen and found the phone where she had dropped it earlier.

“Hello?”

“Sarah?”

“Jackie?”

“Yeah, it’s me.” Jackie’s voice eased some of the tension in Sarah’s body. Jackie Jenkins was her best friend. They had met when Sarah and her sister moved in with their aunt and uncle three months earlier.

Sarah glanced down at her legs and for the first time saw tiny nicks where she had been hit by flying glass. She bent down and examined the cuts further. They were not deep, and were already clotting.

“All of our windows exploded! Do you know what’s going on?” Sarah asked.

“There was an explosion at the high school.”

“There was an explosion?”

“Yep.”

“How do you know? Was it a bomb?” Sarah brushed her hair away from her face and watched as more dust cascaded to the floor.

“I heard it on the police scanner.”

“Was it a bomb?” Sarah asked again.

“They don’t know, but what else causes an explosion?” Jackie said with a voice edged with apprehension.

“Crap,” Sarah gasped, as the energy seemed to drain from her body, replaced with heavy dread. Sagging against the kitchen wall, she clutched the phone as if it were a lifeline. “Uncle Walt.” She choked, and then turned toward Lacey and stared.

“Sarah? Are you there? Are you all right?” Jackie yelled from the phone.

“Sarah?” Lacey’s lip quivered.

Tears welled in Sarah’s eyes as she spoke to Lacey. “There’s been an explosion at the high school.”

“What? No way!” Lacey shook her head and swung away.

“Sarah, I’m coming over!” Jackie screamed.

Sarah nodded numbly as she watched Lacey. Her sister’s breathing was labored and her face turned pale.

“I feel like I’m going to faint.” Lacey’s knees buckled and she reached for the kitchen chair.

“Put your head between your knees!” Sarah dropped the phone, grabbed Lacey and helped her to the floor. She gently pushed Lacey’s head down between her knees. Her sister’s face and knees disappeared behind the curtain of her long blonde hair.

“Now, take deep breaths.”

Lacey inhaled deeply and let her breath out slowly. The two girls sat like that for a few minutes, Sarah holding her sister’s head down and Lacey breathing.

“Thanks. You can let go now.” Lacey raised her head and smiled at Sarah.

Sarah nodded and peered into her sister’s green eyes that were so much like her own. “Better?”

“Yeah.” Lacey let out a long shudder. She sat back on the floor. “I’m not ready to get up yet.”

“Jackie’s coming over.” Sarah picked up the phone and pushed buttons with a shaky hand.

“Who’re you calling?” Lacey whimpered.

“Uncle Walt’s cell.”

Sarah listened to the phone ring, as her stomach tightened into a knot. “It went right into voicemail.” She gulped as the enormity of the situation hit her. Fear ate away at her self-control and her stomach clenched tighter. Taking some deep breaths, she wondered what she should do next. Without a doubt, Sarah knew that Lacey was going to lose it at any moment, and someone needed to take charge. “We have to call Aunt June.” The quiver in her voice betrayed the fear she tried to hide.