Horror and the Wild West – A guest Post by Maynard Blackoak @MaynardBlackoak #horror #darkfiction #author @Sotet_Angyal

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author, collection, dark fiction, Eerie Trails of the Wild Weird West, Haunting, Horror, Maynard Blackoak, Short Story

Horror and the Wild West

Maynard Blackoak

Horror by definition is a very strong feeling of fear, dread, and shock or something that creates those feelings.  Why is it many only focus on horror in the usual or contemporary settings?  From Shelley to Poe to Stoker to King, most classic horror literature tends to remain within the constraints of its own genre.

Picture Dracula moonlighting as a homicide detective.  Could the Frankenstein monster have had a second career as a Hollywood stuntman?  Do those sound humorous?  It they do, might I recommend Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein.  Comedy and horror blend well together.  The trick is, a writer needs to be proficient writing in both genres, or it comes out reading like an observer making jokes about a tragic plane crash.

The one genre, which tends to work best with horror, is science fiction.  The two are so closely related, it is sometimes difficult to distinguish between them.  Oftentimes, the line is blurred to the point a film or story is classified as sci-fi horror.  This combination tends to be easier to write than comedy and horror.  For many, it is easier to be terrifying with science gone awry than to be funny.

There have been other genres, which have worked well with horror.  I would be remiss if I failed to mention the success of Anne Rice’s vampire novels.  She, more than any other author, romanticized the vampire, splendidly casting them in dreamy, gothic light.  Love them or hate them, the Twilight series also accomplished the same thing, albeit with a teenage angst angle.

All this brings me to my collection, Eerie Trails of the Wild Weird West.  Two of my greatest passions are horror stories and the cowboy way of life.  I grew up watching the old classic horror movies from the silent era and the golden age of Hollywood.  When I learned to read, some of the first real novels I read were the classic tales of horror.  While it would be arrogant of me to put my writing on the level of a Poe or Shelley, I would like to think some of their style rubbed off on me.

Growing up in Texas and Oklahoma, I was exposed to cowboy songs and literature.  My dad was a HUGE fan of authors like Zane Grey and Louis L’Amour.  He listened tomusical acts such as Roy Rogers and The Sons of the Pioneers, Marty Robbins, and Gene Autry.  While I failed to appreciate his taste in books and music as a youth, they did grow on me.  In my later teen years, I developed an appreciation for some of his literature and songs.  It was also during that time I became a big fan of classic western films and the music of Chris Ledoux, all the while maintaining my love of classic horror.

One day as I spun the splintered windmill in my mind, pondering an original storyline, I came up with the idea of a marriage between westerns and horror.  As I processed the notion further, my thoughts were flooded with several dusty trails my story could take.  I decided no single story could satisfy the craving to tell a tale of my two favorite genres.  The idea of a western horror novel became an anthology of fourteen tales; I think my readers will find a unique telling of the wild Old West.

From Brethren to The Guns of Clay Allison, Eerie Trails of the Wild Weird West will take you on a bizarre ride of cowboys and Indians versus monsters, myths, and legends.  So saddle up your horses, partner and experience a telling of the Wild West like you have never heard.  Tell all your friends, neighbors, and kinfolk to pick up a copy.  I would sure like to write a second volume of these tales.

Eerie Trails of the Wild Weird West

A Short Story Collection
by Maynard Blackoak

Eerie Trails… of the Wild Weird West

In this collection of fourteen strange tales from the wild west, Cowboys and Indians face down supernatural beings of all varieties – from vampires and werewolves; to ghosts and vengeful spirits; to mythological creatures.

Saddle up cowboys and ladies alike, once the journey begins, Eerie Trails of the Wild Weird West will take you down a strange and bizarre path though the old west that you’ve never been on before.

Available from:

Amazon (eBook): US | UK | Canada | Australia | Germany | France | Spain | Italy | Japan  

Mexico | Brazil |India | The Netherlands

 

Amazon (Print): US | UK | Canada | Australia | Germany | France | Spain | Italy | Japan 

Mexico | Brazil |India | The Netherlands

 

Barnes & Noble | Kobo | Smashwords

 

CreateSpace (Print)

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About the Author —

Maynard Blackoak is a freelance writer living in the backwoods of Pawnee County, Oklahoma. He draws upon the sights of neglect and unusual sounds around him for inspiration. A bit of a recluse, he can often be found strolling through an old, forgotten cemetery or in the woods among the twisted black oaks and native elms under the light of the moon.

Twitter: @maynardblackoak
Facebook: Maynard Blackoak

‘When the Muse Takes Me’ – a guest post by John Mc Caffrey | Nora’s Wish #blogtour #romance #novella

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book, elderly, Guest Post, John Mc Caffrey, love, magical, Muse, Nora's Wish, novella, old age, Romance, second life, Writing

When the Muse Takes Me
John Mc Caffrey

I have never been one for self-imposed writing schedules. I know many writers do, but it doesn’t work for me. I may not write for weeks, then hit the keys hard for a few months, averaging about 2500-5000 words a day. I read that Stephen King can write as many as 50k words a day, which just amazes me. The only time I ever set a goal was when I wrote my first novel, and I set myself a dead line for a particular month I wanted to be finished. I only just made it.

Usually I write late at night, long after everyone’s gone to bed. I find it adds mood to the material. I always have music playing when I write, either classical or new age, volume turned low. If I have notes I’m following, I’ll have those strewn on the desk in front of me and a cup of tea. Then I just go at it until I find a place where I want to stop. Sometimes, I need to stop; closing a scene or chapter. I often like to stop at crucial changes to gain a fresh perspective the following day. To allow what I’ve written to simmer overnight. These are my prolific times.

I wrote Nora’s Wish during one of these prolific times. It held me to the keys for days until I was able to finish it. Some stories have that effect on me, as if they take on a life of their own, demanding to be written. I felt a connection with the major characters in Nora’s Wish, and as a result, many parts of the book almost seemed to write itself. A little strange perhaps, but that’s the way it felt. It’s much the same way when I write anything, especially when I’m dealing with the characters, often times it’s as if they speak to me, and I just jot down what they’re saying.

Not all of what I consider my writing time is about the creative process, or should I say, tapping away at the keys. I also put aside a lot of time for editing, rewriting, and reading what I wrote the day before. I’ll process ideas, going over my notes when I’m able to read them, (I have horrible penmanship), elaborating or discarding plots. I don’t web surf or go on social media when I’m writing. I don’t answer the phone or start rearranging my desk. I stay focused on the task at hand and every now and then, if I’m lucky, everything around me ceases to exist. I enter that creative area of my brain where nothing matters except for what I’m writing. Hours can pass during these times and it’s usually when I’m at my most prolific and most creative. I don’t get writers block, and to be frank, I don’t believe it exists. When I’m in the mood for writing, I can always find something to do. It’s all about the craft and the desire to be better at it than you were the day before.

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Nora’s Wish
by John Mc Caffrey

Ben Jameson is a bitter retiree residing at Willow Manor, a home for the aged or those in need of care, and has nothing more to do than await the inevitable conclusion of a life wasted. Forgotten by his family, his days are marked by the solitary existence of books, loneliness, and regret.

A chance meeting with a terminally ill resident named Nora, and her unshakeable optimism in the face of her eventual demise, rekindles emotions he was certain were gone forever. Nora reawakens his ability to love, and with her compassion and her companionship, he comes to realize that even a life as wasted as his own can be salvaged and, given the right incentive, is still worth living.

As Nora’s health declines, they both dare to hope that the magic of a strange pendant Ben purchased from an antique shop as a gift for Nora will overcome the odds, offering them more time with one another.

Nora’s Wish is available on:

Amazon: US | UK | Australia | Canada | Germany | Italy | France | Spain | Japan | Mexico | Brazil | India | The Netherlands

Other sources: Barnes & Noble (Print & eBook) | Kobo |
iTunes | Smashwords

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR — John Mc Caffrey writes tales of horror, the supernatural, science fiction, and fantasy. He was born in Illinois and grew up on the south side of Chicago. While still in grade school, he developed a passion for reading through the works of Tolkien, Poe, and Lovecraft as well as being addicted to watching Hammer Film’s at the local Saturday matinee. Today he lives in Northern Indiana with his wife where he writes in his spare time.

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Creating a New World – Guest post by Ela Lourenco, author of Dragon Born, a #YA #fantasy #novel. @ElaLourenco

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book, Dragon Born, Ela Lourenco, fantasy, magic, novel, Sirens Call Publications, YA, young adult

Creating a new world…
Ela Lourenco

The idea for Dragon Born literally just popped into my head after a request from my eldest daughter to write something she could read. I could barely stop myself from hogging the computer and losing myself yet again in a new story and yet I did. Why? Before I could begin the tale of Lara and her friends, before the story could move forward we all had to go back – back into the past of Azmantium (the planet the story takes place on)…

I know some writers plan their stories in great detail while others just let it flow spontaneously – I fall somewhere in between. Once I actually start writing it is all spontaneous and freestyle, but then there are the months of planning that go on in the background before the first chapter is ever started.

World creation – possibly one of the hardest and yet most fun aspects of writing a fantasy adventure. There is much more to it than merely describing a planet or setting. In fact I will let you in on a little secret, it takes me longer to establish the world then to write the actual book! There are all the various races to describe; the dragons, mages, witches… And there is so much to detail beyond their physical descriptions and magical powers. Each race needs its own past – an entire history which helps explain why and how they have become who and what they are. They all have their own rituals, belief-systems, relics which are all essential to the creation and melding together of the world they inhabit.

Every potion, weapon and magical object in Dragon Born has a purpose and ties to the plot and many subplots in a vital way. Each one contributes towards making Azmantium not just a make-believe fantastical planet but a three dimensional real one which the reader can connect with more and more as the histories of the races are unravelled.

Some might argue that creating your own world is easier than writing something factual as there is no chance that you can get anything wrong – I beg to differ!! When establishing Azmantium and telling the tale of its various races, I spent many an hour reading and rereading my own notes just to make sure that all of the details fit, that nothing contradicted itself, and that everything I had ‘created’ built on the story and was not merely added in just because it seemed fun. It is vital to create a ‘believable’ world when writing fantasy or the reader will not bond with the characters or empathise with their plight.

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Far in the distant reaches of the universe is a world called Azmantium. A planet with lilac skies, jade green seas and fiery red suns. A planet where everything, from the tides of the sea to life itself, is rooted in magic. Children are assessed at an early age and trained according to their unique magical talents.

Lara, an orphan who has no memory of her true origins, is unaware that she has a vital role to play in the ancient prophesies that are about to begin coming true. Older than most who are just beginning their magical training, Lara will soon find out that destiny waits for no one, especially when the fate of the world rests on their shoulders.

With the help of her new friends, Lara will learn that in order to save the future, she must journey into the past – to a time when Dragons ruled the world!

***

Dragon Born is available from:

Amazon:  US | UK | Canada | Australia | Germany | France | Spain | Italy | Japan | Mexico | Brazil | India | The Netherlands

Barnes & Noble | Kobo | iTunes | Smashwords

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About the Author — Ela Lourenco lives in Scotland with her two daughters and husband. She has been an avid reader since childhood and has long enjoyed mysteries, mythology and anything related to the paranormal/supernatural/mystical/science fiction. She loves nothing more than making up stories about faraway people and places (helped somewhat by a mind that just won’t grow up!). When she isn’t nose deep in a book or writing herself she can be found dancing around the kitchen whilst baking. Her biggest wish in life is to infect others with a passion for reading.

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Follow the rest of Ela’s Dragon Born blog tour – click the image below for participating blogs and dates!

Blog Tour for One Bad Fur Day, by K. Trap Jones – Originality in Writing #horror #thriller #novel @ktrapjones

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book, dark fiction, Horror, K Trap Jones, novel, One Bad Fur Day, Sirens Call Publications, Writing

Originality in Writing
K. Trap Jones

Writers have the ability to create anything they want. A blank page is a massive sandbox; a canvas before a brushstroke even adds color. My favorite part of writing is the brainstorming aspect of the process. I will daydream for days regarding a potential topic and won’t write a single word until I have all of the details organized. In my opinion, there is nothing better than when a story comes together and works. Let’s face it, unless you are making a living at writing, it is a hobby and hobbies should be fun. Otherwise, why do it? Just get another hobby. The fun and creativity in writing keep me coming back to create new tales.

Originality plays a big part in my writing. I refuse to write what others write. An author I look up to is Wrath James White. I read an interview with him back in the day and he said, “If another writer can write your book better than you, then you shouldn’t write it.” That quote conjures up during my brainstorming sessions. I’ve discarded a lot of cool stories because I just didn’t think they were original enough.

Stick three people in a sandbox and instruct them to build a sandcastle. One will push the limits and try to erect a masterpiece, one will play it safe by building a standard castle and the last one will try to copy the others. Originality is the key to any of the arts whether you are a painter, sculptor or writer. Find your voice and carve out your own niche. After all of the fascination of being a ‘published author’ wears off, that is when you truly become a writer.

A few years back, I wrote a short story which completely changed my outlook on writing. It was a story I never thought would see the light of day. The concept was insane, but I had the most fun ever writing when I created it. From that point on, every story was about me having fun at a hobby I enjoy. One Bad Fur Day is a book based on that particular mindset. It was extremely fun to construct this story and push the limits of not only the horror genre, but characterization as well. In order for the book to work, each animal needed to be unique and still keep with the stereotypes of their real life counterparts. In the end, One Bad Fur Day is a unique rollercoaster ride through the beauty and harsh reality of the animal population through times of turmoil.

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ONE BAD FUR DAY

Call it odd, call it off-beat, call it fantasy; but don’t think for a moment that One Bad Fur Day is anything other than a suspense driven horror ride that blurs the lines between harsh reality and brutal imagery…

As Hurricane Katrina barrels through the Louisiana bayous, the animal population is forced to deal with the tumultuous upheaval of their world. Sheriff Sid and his wife are caught completely off-guard by the natural disaster unfolding around them as they battle not only the turbulent winds and flooding waters, but heinous acts committed by other creatures inhabiting the backwaters. Following a brutal assault on his wife, Sid is forced to fight off voodoo-priestess snakes, a junkyard raccoon, deceitful badgers, and a band of roving power-hungry alligators. While clinging to his tenuous hold as sheriff, Sid must find a way to recapture what is rightfully his and exact his revenge.

K. Trap Jones does a fantastic job of pairing the genuine horror of a natural disaster with a story of deceit, betrayal and vengeance that pulls you in and forces the reader to identify with Sid as he journeys through the darkest reaches of the bayous, facing deadly encounters, on One Bad Fur Day!

One Bad Fur Day is available at: 

Amazon: US | UK | Canada | Australia | Germany | France | Spain | Italy | Japan | Mexico | Brazil | India | The Netherlands

Barnes & Noble | Kobo | iTunes | Smashwords

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About the Author: K. Trap Jones is an author of horror novels and short stories. With inspiration from Dante Alighieri and Edgar Allan Poe, he has a temptation towards narrative folklore, classic literary works and obscure segments within society. His short stories have appeared in various anthologies and magazines. His novel, The Sinner won the 2010 Royal Palm Literary Award. He is also a member of the Horror Writers Association and can be found lurking around Tampa, FL.

“Today, there’s a new generation of horror writers bursting onto the scene, and Jones is one of the leaders of the pack.” –Edward Lee, author of City Infernal, Header, and The Bighead

Novels:
-The Sinner
-The Harvester
-The Drunken Exorcist
-The Charm Hunter
-One Bad Fur Day
-The King’s Ox
-The Crossroads

The Cornelius Correspondence: The Cradle Book Tour: Letter 4 of 5 – #horror #novel #Cradle @JoshuaSkye1

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author gust post, book, Cradle, Crepuscule's Cradle, haunted, Haunting, Horror, Joshua Skye, novel, Sirens Call Publications, Supernatural

 

The Cornelius Correspondence: The Cradle Book Tour:
Letter 4 of 5

by Joshua Skye

Dear Joshua,

One hopes one’s letter reaches you while in a pleasant state of mind. If you’re not, so be it. Someone or something has been scratching at the chamber door for hours this evening, so one finds oneself without much concern for your emotional well-being at this time. Oh dear, did that sound catty, in any way unkind? Allow me an hour’s reprieve.

Two hours have passed and still the scratching continues raking cat-like claws across one’s back, down the spine, sending frosty fingertips over the whole of one’s body. One realizes this is a rather eerie opening to a personal letter, but perhaps your Muse has taken form in this, our correspondence. Please, feel free to use this unnerving discomfort in some future story. Don’t forget a wink or a nod in the dedication.

You might ask why one simply doesn’t fling open the door and investigate, and the answer would have to be a resounding: one doesn’t know. Imaginations run wild and fear becomes addiction after a while. One likes it, like a dog to a bone, moth to a flame, an obsession to a fetishist. Ah, one’s latest fixation… fear. Rather ironic, wouldn’t you say? A Shadow fetishizing shadow. Or maybe it’s just fittingly amusing. Like your Muse, the boogeyman, Krampus, or your favorite porn star, one exists to arouse you, nothing more.

One does admire that you love your characters, even those of unredeeming quality. It makes your stories exponentially more disturbing. How could anyone love a mother… or, more distinctively, Scotty’s mother in the wake of her ghastly neglect? Are you the victim of some sort of variant of Stockholm Syndrome, a childhood pathology that crafts a bond with such a vile parent regardless of said parent’s shortcomings? In fact, your “mommy issues” seem a regular motif in your writing. The relationship between Kincaid and his mother in The Angels of Autumn was dysfunctional as well, though in a resplendently dissimilar way. Love takes on many guises, most of which are just plain unsettling in your world. How bravely and incestuously gothic of you, Joshua.

We’ve corresponded about your main characters, what compels you to bring them to life in all their dysfunctional grandeur, the fact they have eerie similarities to the people you know, but allow one to ask you of monsters. Do they too have origins in entities around you? Your fiends in Angels were truly horrific. I was spellbound by your graphic depictions of those oceanic monstrosities and the vivid transformations from their human forms. What made you deviate from revisiting them in Cradle, though it takes place in the same nightmarish realm?

Dreaming,
Cornelius

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Cradle
Joshua Skye

In the deepest vale of Crepuscule’s Cradle, in the cul-de-sac at the end of Direful Hollow Road, is a once grand Folk-Victorian home known as The Habersham House. It’s a place haunted by far more than rot and neglect – evil dwells here, an evil that craves children.

Eight-year-old Scott Michaels-Greene has a fascination for tales of the strange and unusual, especially local folklore. His favorite story is the one about Habersham House; a ruined old place where many curious children have disappeared.

Hours away from Crepuscule’s Cradle, in Philadelphia, author Radley Barrette has just lost the love of his life to a random act of violence. Amongst his endowments from Danny’s estate is an old house in the backwoods of Pennsylvania, Habersham House. Though grief stricken at leaving behind the only home he and Danny had ever known, he knows he cannot remain in the city. Besides, the isolation may be just what he needs to clear his mind of the writer’s block he’s suffering from.

Crepuscule’s Cradle is not as he imagined. The locals are inhospitable. The skeletal forest surrounding it is as unwelcoming as the town. And the house itself – there is something menacing, something angry inhabiting it with him, and it’s hungry. Radley’s world slowly begins to unravel; the fringes of his reality begin to fray. In the midst of his breakdown, a local boy with an unhealthy fascination for Habersham House begins sneaking around and the evil residing within has taken notice.

Blending fantasy with horror, Crepuscule’s Cradle is the darkest of fairy tales. The morbidity of classic folklore and contemporary style weaves a web of slowly encroaching unease. Radley Barrette’ winter bound home is more than a haunted house, and Crepuscule’s Cradle is more than a mere horror tale. It’s a bedtime story that will pull you into its icy embrace, lull you into a disquiet state, and leave you shivering in the dark.

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Cradle is available online at:
Amazon: US | UK | Australia | Canada | Germany | Italy | France | Spain | Japan | Mexico | Brazil | India | The Netherlands

Barnes & Noble (Print & eBook) | Kobo | iTunes | Smashwords

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About the Author – Award winning, bestselling author Joshua Skye was born in Jamestown, New York. Growing up, he split his time between Pennsylvania and Texas. Ultimately he settled in the DFW area with his partner, Ray – of nearly two decades, and their son Syrian. They share their lives with two dogs, Gizmo and Gypsy, and a chinchilla named Bella. Skye’s short fiction has appeared in numerous anthologies including Childhood Nightmares: Under the Bed, and periodicals such as The Sirens Call. He is the author of over ten critically acclaimed novels, among them The Angels of Autumn that takes place in the same nightmarish universe as Cradle.

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An Interview with Julie Barnson, #Author of ‘Go Gentle’ in Beyond the Wail – @JulieBarnson1

Tags

Anthology, Beyond the Wail, Blog Tour, ghost, Go Gentle, Julie Barnson, Short Story

An Interview with Julie Barnson, author of ‘Go Gentle’ in Beyond the Wail, plus a ‘just for fun’ list!

How did you come up with the concept of your story?
I was thinking about the song The Devil Went Down to Georgia.  I had just heard other stories like it, and randomly googled fiddle folklore. I learned some really awesome things, and I decided to use what I learned in a story.

What is your preferred writing genre?
I love ghost stories.

Who is your favorite author?
Neil Gaiman

When did you know you wanted to be a writer?  
When I was in third grade.  Then I became an adult and decided that I didn’t have anything to say.  Recently my children have been growing up and leaving home, and I’m starting to realize that maybe third grade me had the right idea.

Given unlimited resources, what would be your ideal writing environment?  
A lovely custom office at home that didn’t have access to the internet so I couldn’t distract myself with Facebook.

What is your writing drive? The power that keeps you going when your writing gets difficult?
I don’t know yet.  I’m still discovering me as an author.

How does writing impact other parts of your life?  
I’m a professional storyteller, and I’m hoping to use writing to tie in to some of my performances and to define who I am as a storyteller of the oral AND the written word combined.

What activities best give your brain a break?
I’m a solitaire addict.  This is actually a bad thing, because I play solitaire on the computer.  If I lose a game, It could be awhile before I can get back to writing, because I have to play again.

What are some of your other published works?
I have a CD that I self published, and have stories in two other cd’s that were produced by the Utah Storytelling Guild.  Beyond that and a few contributing recipes in local recipe books, this is my first foray into the publishing world.

What is your advice to writers?
I don’t have any advice to writers, except to keep doing what you love.  To aspiring writers, be courageous and bold and just do it.

What’s up next for you?
I’m putting together an anthology of Victorian ghost stories.  I have been learning to tell them for shows, and I want to put all of my favorites into one place.

What is your favorite snack while writing?
Diet coke

If you had three wishes, what would they be?
Oh no, I’m not falling for THAT trap.  There’s always a catch when you make wishes in the ghost stories and horror novels.  Monkey’s Paw, anyone?

Is there anything else you’d like your readers to know about you?  
I love to play dress up, but not as any particular character, so I’m not really a cosplayer, more a costumer.  I ADORE Halloween.  It’s my favorite holiday. I love to cook.

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Julie’s Just for fun nerd list:
Star Wars or Star Trek? Star Wars
Hunger Games or Divergent? Hunger Games.
James Bond or Jack Ryan? Jack Ryan
Sherlock: Robert Downey, Jr. or Benedict Cumberbatch? Benedict Cumberbatch, absolutely
Spock: Leonard Nimoy or Zachary Quinto? Leonard Nimoy
X-Men or Avengers? Avengers
Aliens or Predators? Aliens
Minions or Penguins? Neither
Batman or Superman? Batman
Harry Potter or Pirates of the Caribbean? Yes.

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What is it about fear and the unknown that pulls so passionately at the human heart? Perhaps we are drawn not to the darkness itself, but to the resolution, the overcoming of what we most deeply dread. After all, the more terrible the struggle, the greater the victory when it comes at last. Presented in this anthology are twelve remarkable stories of the darkness that overshadows us, and the resolution that may be found beyond them. They are stories of fear and oppression, but ultimately stories of hope, stories that will take you BEYOND THE WAIL.

GO GENTLE by Julie Barnson: After the death of her boyfriend, a young musician uses her talents and a fabled violin to stop the fatal accidents at a dead man’s curve.
Blog: Tales by Julie
Twitter: @JulieBarnson1

Available on Amazon >>>

‘STRUCK’ – The 1 Year Anniversary Tour of Clarissa Johal’s Novel @ClarissaJohal

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book, Clarissa Johal, Gothic, Horror, novel, paranormal, Sapphyria's Book Promotions, STRUCK

Welcome to the blog tour celebrating the
1 Year Anniversary of the release of the
Paranormal Gothic Horror Novel

STRUCK
by Clarissa Johal

Follow the tour to read new reviews, interviews with Clarissa,
and exclusive excerpts.

“The shadows hadn’t been waiting. The shadows had been invited.”

About STRUCK

After a painful breakup, Gwynneth Reese moves in with her best friend and takes a job at a retirement home. She grows especially close to one resident, who dies alone the night of a terrific storm. On the way home from paying her last respects, Gwynneth is caught in another storm and is struck by lightning. She wakes in the hospital with a vague memory of being rescued by a mysterious stranger. Following her release from the hospital, the stranger visits her at will and offers Gwynneth a gift–one that will stay the hands of death. Gwynneth is uncertain whether Julian is a savior or something more sinister… for as he shares more and more of this gift, his price becomes more and more deadly.

Book Details:

Title: STRUCK

Genre: Paranormal Gothic Horror

Author(s): Clarissa Johal

Publisher: Musa Publishing

http://www.musapublishing.com/

Cover Artist: Kelly Shorten

ISBN: 978-1-61937-690-8

Number of Pages: 255

Price: $4.99

Purchase Links:

 

 Amazon Author Page

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Exclusive Excerpt:

They perused the aisles of clothing together, Fenten carrying a mountain of clothes to try on and Gwynneth with two T-shirts.

“Pick something else, Gwennie,” he complained. “A dress or something that looks hot.”

“Where am I going to wear something hot, Fenten?” she scoffed. “I’m sure all the residents would appreciate that.”

“Not for work, girl. For going out.”

“I don’t go out.”

“Maybe you should. When’s the last time you and Seth went out for a night on the town? Dancing or clubbing? You two need to get drunk together.”

She felt her cheeks warm slightly. It was stuffy in the clothing store. “I don’t know of any place to go.”

“In San Francisco? Honey, there are more places than you could cover in a lifetime. Next time I go out, you’re both coming with me.”

She didn’t say anything to that. The idea of trolling the singles clubs scared her more than she cared to admit.

“How about this?” Fenten held up a red dress.

“It’s nice.”

“Nice? There’s no nice about this dress. It’s hot, is what it is. You’d look great in it, too. Try it on.” He tossed it at her.

She sighed, exasperated. “It’s too fancy. I don’t think it will look good on me.”

“Go.” He gave her a little push toward the changing room. “Just try it on. And give me those.” He grabbed the T-shirts from her. “Enough with the T-shirts. Think grown-up clothes. You’ve got a body underneath those poor excuses for fashion. You need to find it.”

“Fine, I’ll try it on,” she said. “You can be so pushy, seriously.”

She checked the corridor of changing rooms. They were all empty, save for the one at the end, which seemed to have some movement in it. She started for the first door and found it locked. She tried the second and again found it locked. All of them, except for the changing room next to the one occupied, were locked. Exasperated, she set the dress hanger on the post of that one and closed the door. Shimmying out of her jeans and T-shirt, she unzipped the red dress and slipped it over her head, carefully navigating her burn. She decided not to zip it up and then checked the mirror. It was a beautiful dress. Really it was. “It’s just not me,” she murmured. “Too fancy.”

Gwynneth stared at her reflection and frowned. It was getting darker in the store. She looked up. Over-bright fluorescent lights glared down at her. “What the hell?” Her T-shirt slipped from the peg. As she bent to pick it up, something dark shot out from under the changing room beside her and snatched it. “Hey!” She knocked on the wall. “Hello? That’s my T-shirt!”

Silence.

She peered under the short wall that separated the changing rooms. The room next to hers appeared empty. I swear there was somebody in there a second ago. Maybe they’re standing on the chair. “Hello?” She knocked again. Hesitant, she stepped out of her changing room and tried the perpetrator’s door. The light overhead flickered, and the door swung open.

The dressing room was empty. Her T-shirt lay on the ground. She bent to retrieve it and caught what should have been her reflection in the mirror. But it wasn’t her reflection. The mirror was completely black. Gwynneth froze in horror. Something was watching her from the other side. She could feel its presence, poised and waiting to spring. A hissing whisper made its way into her ear and trailed away. She backed out of the dressing room and fled down the corridor.

“Okay, now you look hot, Gwennie,” Fenten remarked as she joined him.“The fact that you didn’t zip it up? Even better.”

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Praise for STRUCK:

Lovely Reads

“This book grabs you in right away and hold your attention…I so loved this book and didn’t put it down until the very end.” Read More ~ Lovely Reads

Bex ‘n’ Books

“This is a spooky thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat. You won’t be able to put it down because you must finish it to see what happens, even if it keeps you up late at night to do so.” Read More ~ Bex’n’Books

Bibliophilic Book Blog

“STRUCK will get beneath your skin from the very beginning. Gwen’s a likable character with a difficult past and tenuous future after meeting Julian. I liked the secondary characters, especially Fenten and Poppy. The characters were definitely all well-developed and engaging.” Read More ~ Bibliophilic Book Blog

Straight from the Library

“The characters are well drawn and likable….The action is fast paced– I read the book in one sitting.” Read More ~ Straight from the Library

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About the Author:

Clarissa Johal has worked as a veterinary assistant, zoo-keeper aide and vegetarian chef. Writing has always been her passion. When she’s not listening to the ghosts in her head, she’s dancing or taking photographs of gargoyles. She shares her life with her husband, two daughters and every stray animal that darkens the doorstep. One day, she expects that a wayward troll will wander into her yard, but that hasn’t happened yet.

*Member of the Author’s Guild

Coming May 19, 2015 from Permuted Press

VOICES, a paranormal psychological horror

 

STRUCK, a paranormal gothic horror

(2014) Musa Publishing

*Indie Book of the Day Award

*Nominated for the Preditors and Editors Readers Poll 2014

BETWEEN, a story of the paranormal

(2012) Musa Publishing

*Second place in the Preditors and Editors Readers Poll 2012

*Paranormal Reads gives BETWEEN 4 out of 5 Bats

PRADEE, a young adult fantasy

(2010) CreateSpace

*Second round finalist in Amazon’s Breakthrough Novel Award Contest 2012

Short stories:

PIGEONS, published in the literary journal Susurrus

THE ROPE, published in the literary journal Susurrus

Non-Fiction:

A WAY OF LIFE, published in The Sacramento Bee

 

Find Clarissa Online:

Author Website
Amazon Author Page

Author Blog

Author Facebook Page

Twitter

Author Goodreads

Pinterest

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):

 

How did you come up with the idea for STRUCK?

Some stories begin as random scenes, some as characters, and some are born from asking the question, “What if?” I was hit with the idea of STRUCK while running on a forest trail near my house. It was during a thunderstorm and I wondered what it would be like to be hit by lightning. I write about ghosts and things that go bump in the night and in essence, those entities are energy. What if a portal was opened by a lightning strike? And what if that portal allowed the energy from those entities to escape? The idea was intriguing and I went to bed still thinking about it. That night, I dreamt I stood in a field, with lightning striking the ground all around me. But the lightning wasn’t just releasing electrical energy, the lightning was releasing negative entities from the Otherworld. I woke from the nightmare in a panic, thinking those entities had somehow attached themselves to me. And so a story is born.

I went on to research the effects of being struck by lightning, interviewed several lightning survivors, and began writing STRUCK. I’m continually amazed how a, “What if?” idea can expand into a novel.

What first inspired you to become a writer? And what compels you to continue your career as an author?

I wrote my first short story in grade six. I was asked by the teacher to read it aloud to the class, which terrified me. After I was finished, I realized that I actually had everyone’s attention! I was shy and we moved every year, so I was always the new kid. When you’re in that situation, it’s kind of like being invisible. Finding my voice through story-telling made me realize how powerful writing could be. As far as continuing—truthfully? I think I’d go nuts if I didn’t write.

What made you choose the genre of paranormal gothic horror?

I started out writing fantasy fiction. I was working on the second installment to my PRADEE series when there were two characters that kept showing up on the page, over and over. They didn’t belong in fantasy novel, nor did they belong in my story! But their backstory came to me so vividly, that I set aside my series and wrote my first paranormal novel, BETWEEN. I’ve been pulled into the Otherworld permanently now. The ideas come faster than I can write them down.

Tour Presented by:

Tour Schedule:

January 1: Tour Kick-Off http://saphsbookblog.blogspot.com/
January 2: Exclusive Excerpt http://ifeeltheneedtheneedtoread.com/
January 4: Review http://www.carolynspearromance.com/blog
January 5: Review HorrorMade.blogspot.com
January 7: Exclusive Excerpt http://saphsbookblog.blogspot.com/
January 9: Exclusive Excerpt http://aliciajoseph.com/
January 12: Review https://twitter.com/peach83352
January 15: Exclusive Excerpt https://darcnina.wordpress.com
January 17: Review http://mullenarmyfamily.blogspot.com/
January 19: Exclusive Excerpt http://sloanetaylor.blogspot.com/
January 20: Exclusive Excerpt http://www.babsbookbistro.net/
January 21: Interview http://ifeeltheneedtheneedtoread.com/
January 23: Exclusive Excerpt https://fillingspaces.wordpress.com/
January 26: Interview http://karengreco.blogspot.com/
January 28: Review http://neutiquamerro.wordpress.com
January 31: Reviews (by 3 different tour hosts)
1) http://ifeeltheneedtheneedtoread.com/
2) http://www.themoralofourstories.com
3) http://hello-booklover.tumblr.com/

Guest Post by Carson Buckingham, author of Gothic Revival. ( @59CarsonBuck )

Tags

Amazon, Blog Tour, Carson Buckingham, Gothic Revival, Horror, novel, paranormal, Rafflecopter

The Frankenstein Monster or His Bride?
Gender Bias in Horror

Carson Buckingham

Gender bias in the horror genre? I honestly don’t think so—not in present times, at any rate. Women are stepping right up and competing… though I don’t even know if ‘competing’ is the correct word. I don’t think the writing of horror, or anything else, for that matter, has anything to do with what’s between a person’s legs. Folks reading the submissions at publishing houses are only looking for a well-told tale… period. They don’t care if you’re Joe Schmo, or Josephine Schmo. They want to sell books. Send them an extraordinary story and they will buy it.

Someone once brought up the fact that my name could be used to hide my gender, which is female; though Carson McCullers, a fabulous author, is female, as well. Couldn’t be further from the truth. Though my real name is much more obviously feminine, I chose the pseudonym ‘Carson Buckingham’ as an ongoing tribute to both my Russian- and Lithuanian-born grandparents and my Aunt Mary, Uncle Lee, and cousin Lois. They resided on Carson Avenue, which was off Buckingham Street—therefore, Carson Buckingham. So my name is really an address, not an attempt at camouflage. Those five people were there for me and treated me with kindness and love, which allowed me to cope, to a better degree, with my childhood and the living nightmares who were my mother, stepfather, and half-brother. They were all alive when my work began to be picked up by publishers, but I never told them about it, because they wouldn’t have cared, anyway, and I didn’t believe in setting myself up for yet another disappointment where they were concerned.

For the most part, I believe that claiming gender bias is little more than an excuse to make oneself a victim. And self-made victims rarely pick themselves up by the bootstraps and make the diligent effort required to improve their work. Just my opinion, however. I refused to declare myself a victim as a child, when I had every reason and right to do so, and I refuse to make myself a victim as an adult. The torturous time I lived through made me the strong, self-validating person I am today, so perhaps a little good did come from it, after all.

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Gothic Revival
by Carson Buckingham

Alex and Leo Renfield are a husband and wife contractor team who’ve recently moved to the village of Woodhaven, Connecticut to escape the chaos of life in New York. Pretty close to broke, they meet Theodora Hamilton, a somewhat unsavory and odd individual, who offers them an astronomical amount of money to repaint the first floor of her family home.

But along with the huge paycheck comes a set of unsettling rules that must be followed explicitly if they are to accept the offer; one of which is they must reside on the property having no direct contact with the outside world until the job is complete.

Is Theodora Hamilton just an eccentric woman with a peculiar way of doing things, or is there a more sinister agenda that Alex and Leo are unaware of? What exactly does she have in store for this down-on-their-luck couple who have no choice but to accept the offer and the strange requirements that come along with it?

Gothic Revival can be found online at major retailers including:

Amazon: US | UK | Canada | Australia | Germany | France | Italy | Spain | Japan | Mexico | India | Brazil

Barnes & Noble, Kobo, Amazon Print, iTunes

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 WIN A FREE DIGITAL COPY OF THE BOOK!

Win 1 of 5 digital copies of Gothic Revival by Carson Buckingham!
(click to enter)

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Carson Buckingham knew from childhood that she wanted to be a writer, and began, at age six, by writing books of her own, hand-drawing covers, and selling them to any family member who would pay (usually a gum ball) for what she referred to as “classic literature.” When she ran out of relatives, she came to the conclusion that there was no real money to be made in self-publishing, so she studied writing and read voraciously for the next eighteen years, while simultaneously collecting enough rejection slips to re-paper her living room… twice.

When her landlord chucked her out for, in his words, “making the apartment into one hell of a downer,” she redoubled her efforts and collected four times the rejection slips in half the time, single-handedly causing the first paper shortage in U.S. history.

But she persevered, improved greatly over the years, and here we are.

Carson Buckingham has been a professional proofreader, editor, newspaper reporter, copywriter, technical writer, comedy writer, humorist, and fiction author. Besides writing, she loves to read and work in her vegetable garden. She lives in the United States in the state of Arizona.

 Twitter | Facebook | Blog

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A Guest Post with A.F. Stewart, #author of ‘Killers & Demons II: They Return’ #horror @scribe77

Tags

AF Stewart, book, collection, exploring horror, Guest Post, Horror, Killers and Demons 2, Killers and Demons II, Killers and Demons: They Return, They Return

Exploring the Appeal of Horror
A Guest Post by A.F. Stewart

What is it about the horror genre that fascinates? Why do people watch scary movies or read nightmare-inducing books? What deep, dark recess of our minds gets a thrill from those terrifying frights and chills that invade our brains?

To me, the appeal of horror is a bit of a dichotomy. As a reader and viewer, I tend to steer clear of horror novels and movies, finding them far too scary (yes, I am a chicken), but as a writer I delve into that world with gusto.

So what attracts me, the self-proclaimed chicken, to write in the horror genre?

I think part of it is the exploration of the unknown, that siren call of the unfathomable darkness, be it the black madness of a human brain or those bone-chilling terrors that go bump in the night. To play with those possibilities as a writer is most tempting. It is a risk free chance to howl at the moon, to wander into that dark alley where a killer waits, or rub shoulders with the denizens of Hell.

But why should all that appeal to me? Shouldn’t a sane person (and maybe there is some doubt on my sanity) want to run from such things, to crave writing about the lighter side of life, not the dark?

Possibly, but in my writing I’ve always felt you shouldn’t ignore something because it might be less than ideal, or even horrible. Why not delve into it, discover its inner workings, and display its shocking revulsion for all to see. And maybe, subconsciously, I feel more at ease with horror if I can control it. It’s also cathartic, a way of channeling those daily frustrations and resentments by cutting a literary swath of blood and guts through my stories. Of course, it could be I simply like killing off my characters, a sort of literary lining up the dominoes to knock them down. Whatever the reason, I know I do enjoy writing horror stories, and my audience enjoys reading them.

So, what do I think is the answer to the fascination people have with the horror genre? Conceivably it’s just a rush of chemicals in our brain, a feel-good cocktail to counteract the fright. However, it might be something more sinister, that little touch of our bad side peeking through. Do we really feel a secret exhilaration from vicariously living the fictional villainy? Or maybe the secret is something else entirely. Maybe we need it. Perhaps, knowing real horrors exist in the world, we need to escape into safe ones, ones we can tuck back onto the shelf, in order to keep our (doubtful) sanity.

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Killers and Demons II: They Return
A Horror Collection by A.F. Stewart

Evil is back, with a greater appetite for death.

Killers.
Demons.
They lurk forever in the shadows, smile at you in the morning, and haunt your dreams at night. You can’t hide, you can’t run, and there’s no escape. You can only scream when they come for you.

Killers and Demons II: They Return is a collection of thirteen tales, blending short stories and flash fiction, tales where the blood lingers on your tongue or spurts quickly from the swift cut.

The Villainous Roster:

Wade, every parent’s nightmare
Hannah and Mr. Greeley. Who is the victim and who is the villain?
Simon and Zoe, a married couple who are dying to be single again.
Norman and his “cookie” of a wife, Mabel.
Millicent and Jane, a delightful duo you shouldn’t invite to your Regency tea party
Amanda, who literally has a skeleton in her closet
Balthazar, the demon bounty hunter on the hunt once more.
Sarah, a young woman going through some changes and craving new tastes
Emmeline, burned as a witch, now back from the dead for revenge
Gabrielle, a woman haunted by shadows
The Dollmaker, she showers death, and an umbrella won’t help
Nightmare Demons, bent on driving a town insane

And then there’s Alice, a little girl locked in the basement by her Daddy…

Together they form a spine-chilling cadre of predators.

Available on Amazon, Smashwords, Barnes & Noble, & iTunes

Join in the Rafflecopter giveaway for a chance to win a free copy!

(or if you are having trouble accessing it, you can find it here on Facebook!)

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About A.F. Stewart:

A. F. Stewart was born and raised in Nova Scotia, Canada, and still calls it home. The youngest in a family of seven children, she has always had an overly creative mind and an active imagination. She is fond of good books (especially science fiction/fantasy), action movies, sword collecting, and oil painting as a hobby.

Ms. Stewart is an indie author with several published novellas and story collections in the dark fantasy or horror genres, with a few side trips into poetry and non-fiction. She has a great interest in history and mythology, often working those themes into her books and stories.

Her stories have also been published by Xchyler Publishing in the anthology Mechanized Masterpieces, and an upcoming paranormal anthology to be released this fall. In addition, she has the privilege to be a part of the charity anthologies: Coffin Hop: Death by Drive-In, Christmas Lites III, and the upcoming Christmas Lites IV.

You can find Ms. Stewart on twitter as @scribe77; on Facebook as A.F. Stewart; her blog, Are You Afraid of the Dark?; plus peruse a list of her other regular haunts on about.me

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‘Truth is Relative’, by JJ Lyon – The Official Blog Tour

Tags

Amazon, book, Giveaway, JJ Lyons, Lady Readers Bookstuff, Mystery, novel, Rafflecopter, The Truth is Relative, thriller

 Lady Reader’s Blog Tours presents another exciting week long tour! Just in time to read in front of the fire with a cup of cocoa or your favorite hot beverage, J. J. Lyon’s fun private investigator mystery, with a twist, TRUTH is REALTIVE; the first in the A Truth Inducer Mystery series is here. A giveaway, great posts, reviews and best of all? Fun!

 

TRUTH IS RELATIVE 
By: J.J. Lyon 
Pages: 275 
Publisher: Gem Cache Publishing 
Genre: Who Dunit-Mystery PI – (Fiction/Mystery)

Anthony Blackwell’s “gift” compels people to confess their deepest secrets.

It corrupts his relationships, derails his career and drives him toward eviction—until he becomes Anthony Bishop, private investigator.

His first case drops him into a deadly family drama that will save him financially, if it doesn’t kill him first.

Who can resist a great first line:

“The Monday before Thanksgiving, my car disappeared…

 

From
the readers:

“I love the premise of
this book, it’s like PI Morrow meets Liar Liar.”

“This book reminded me of the stone movies Tom Selleck was in. It
has the rough feeling of the west but is written smoothly so that it’s hard to
stop reading. I’m hoping there is/will be more.” Stefanie Andersen – Logan, UT 

“A very interesting and innovative
plot.” Billie H – Lamesa, TX

From
the author:

The world didn’t have enough
mysteries with a sense of humor, so I wrote one. 

From
other authors:

“What a fun, great read! I
loved the characters and the concept was one I’d never heard of. Reading was an
absolute pleasure.”–Rebecca Belliston, author of Sadie and
Augustina 

“Even though Anthony’s
“gift” makes him an effective detective, it is almost impossible for
him to establish meaningful relationships. Anthony finds himself in situations
fraught with danger, but tinged with humor. His charm and good looks draw
people to him, but they quickly regret revealing their darkest secrets. I found
myself laughing out loud and reading to find out what happens next. It’s easy
to get caught up in the fresh and intriguing story. Lyon has so much
imagination and skillful writing, I look forward to reading whatever she comes
up with next.”  

–Carole Warburton, author of A Question
of Trust and Poaching Daisies 

 

Amazon | Goodreads

Chapter One – Truth is Relativeby J. J. Lyon

The Monday before Thanksgiving, my car disappeared. Or it might have been
late Sunday night. The day was half over before I even looked outside.
Instead I focused on an ugly painting until I realized I was hungry. I was out
of bread and low on groceries in general. I cleaned my brushes, grabbed my
keys, opened the front door, and stared at gray asphalt where my Mazda used to
be. A few dead cottonwood leaves swirled there before the wind swept them off.

 

I didn’t bother calling the police. My car hadn’t been stolen,
it had been repossessed. 

 

My cell phone buzzed. It was my brother, Bart. “Hey,” I said.

“Hey, Bro. How’s life in the Big City?” Bart wasn’t being
ironic. Compared to our hometown of Jersey, Cheyenne was enormous.

“It’s good!” I stepped back into Sam’s Café and tried to think
of something else to say. Something that would back up my lie.

“Great. When are you coming for Thanksgiving?” Bart asked.

 

My brain scrambled, too busy to pay attention. I didn’t need a
car. The abandoned café was a great studio, with north-facing windows and
indirect natural light. My work happened right at home.

 

My work was also stacked against the walls, waiting for a
gallery to accept it. The art that was already in a gallery had hung there for
months. I needed a day job. A car would help.

“Tony? Hello?”

“Huh?”

“What about Thanksgiving?”

“I don’t know yet.”

“Whaddaya mean? I thought you were your own boss.”

“Yeah, but I’m pretty …” I glanced out at the empty parking
place. “It’s hard to get away right now.”

Bart was quiet, and when he spoke again he sounded unusually
hesitant. “So how are you really?”

“Fine. I’m doing great.”

“Yeah, okay. You know what you need? A night out.”

“No, I don’t.”

“Yes, you do. I can tell you’re depressed.”

“I’m not depressed.”

“C’mon, Tony. Think of everything we could learn about the
beautiful women of Cheyenne.” Bart could afford to be fascinated by my new
ability. He didn’t have to live with it.

“I’ve got to go get some groceries,” I said.

“Fine.” Bart sounded annoyed, but he didn’t argue. “Fine, I’ll
talk to you later.”

 

I turned away from the café window and walked to my bedroom,
which was actually a converted storage area in the back of the café. A walk-in
cooler had once taken up most of the space, but it had been ripped out and sold
the last time the place went out of business. There was room for a twin bed and
a battered dresser from Goodwill Industries. I pulled my wallet from the top
drawer and retrieved my old bike from the back of the building.

 

It was a cold ride to the store. Cheyenne’s legendary wind
pushed against my side and cut across my hands. I’d forgotten my gloves. I
zipped my jacket all the way up, stuffed my hands in my pockets, and kept
pedaling, glad I had at least one useful talent. God gave me excellent balance.

 

My mind whirled as fast as my bike wheels, tallying my other
useful abilities. I was decent at hanging Sheetrock, and I could tape and
texture as long as the customer didn’t mind it a little antique and heavy. As
for roofs, I’d done it all—patch, replace, steel, asphalt. If I had a truck I
could rent myself out as a handyman. I could work in blissful isolation most of
the time.

A gust of wind broadsided me. I went down in slow motion,
shifted my weight, scuffed on the pavement with my feet. In the end my shoulder
hit the road before I could pull my hands out of my pockets. The car behind me
screeched to a stop and a woman got out. “Are you all right?” she asked.

 

“Fine,” I said. The front bike wheel spun uselessly. My arm
hurt. I scrambled out from under the bike, trying to place the woman’s voice.

“Anthony?”

Recognition registered in my gut as much as my ears. I knew that
voice. The last time I had heard it, its tone had been much angrier. “Hi,
Heather,” I said.

“What are you doing out here in the cold on a bike? I heard you
drove a hot Mazda.”

“Not today,” I said.

“I heard you got fired, too. Twice.”

Technically I only got fired once. The other time I quit before
the ax fell.

 

Heather wasn’t in my fan club, but she wasn’t being rude,
either. She was just under my influence. After thirty seconds in close
proximity, people began confessing to me. I didn’t know why this began
happening. For the first year or so, I didn’t realize it was happening at all.
But as soon as my “gift” began manifesting itself, my life started rolling down
a rocky slope.

 

“I almost drove by when you fell.” She brushed dirt from my
sleeve. “I knew it was you and I don’t want to talk to you, but it looked bad.”

“It’s all right.” I stepped away from her brushing hand.

She didn’t leave. “Can I give you a ride? Please say no. I don’t
want to be in a car alone with you, pretending I don’t remember how you—”

“No thanks.” I gripped the handlebars and pressed my weight on
them a little. 

She nodded. “You wouldn’t accept help from me anyway. Bart,
maybe, but not me.”

“I don’t need it. I’ll see you later, okay?”

“Okay.”

 

I rode the rest of the way to Safeway with my hands on the
handlebars. My fingers numbed in the wind. The pain in my arm faded to a dull
ache, and I shook off the encounter with my ex. In the store parking lot, the
lights shone in the murky daylight. It was early afternoon, but the thick
clouds fooled the light sensors into thinking it was dusk. I went inside the
store and found some sandwich meat on sale and a package of rubbery cheese
slices. I picked up some day-old wheat bread and waited in line behind a thin,
fortyish man with a few days’ beard. He wore dirty jeans and a sweatshirt
stained with what looked like motor oil. After thirty seconds, he turned to me.

 

“My wife left me this morning,” he said.

I nodded. If I didn’t acknowledge him, he would only repeat
himself. Louder.

“She put her ring in my hand and said, ‘I’ve got to go to work.’
I said, ‘Can we talk about this?’ and she said, ‘It’s too late.’”

I nodded again.

“How can it be too late? Twelve years, and she can’t even talk
about it? Isn’t twelve years worth a little discussion before you throw your
husband in the garbage?”

“Yeah,” I said.

“I know I didn’t pay attention before. I mean, when she was
going around all mopey and resentful. I just figured she’d work it out. And
sometimes she tried to tell me something and I’d change the subject, ’cause I
could only hear that her life sucked so many times—”

“They’re ready to ring you up,” I said, nodding to the sales
clerk.

 

The man stepped forward. I stepped back. So far, ten feet looked
like the magic distance. More than that, and most people were out of the range
of my gift. Less than that and I was in the confessor’s bubble.

 

“Are you in line?” a young mother asked behind me.

“Yeah. I’m just, uh …” I glanced at the man, who was now deep
into an emotional conversation with the salesclerk. Apparently I wasn’t far
enough away yet. I took another step back. “That guy needs a little space.”

 

The mother peered at him. “Is he crying?”

“I think so.”

She shrugged. “It figures. I get it all day from these two.” She
nodded to her cart. A baby in the front clung to the push bar and gummed it
with a slobbery mouth. A curly-haired toddler sat in the main basket, his fist
buried in a box of cereal. “Maybe they never get over it. ‘I need this,’ ‘I
want that.’”

I nodded.

 

“And then their dad comes home and he needs dinner and he wants
sex. Everybody’s gotta have something.”

I took a step forward.

“Can’t anybody see that I’m tired? Look at me. I haven’t had a
shower in three days, and I’m supposed to be a sex goddess?”

I glanced at her. She was frumpy. “Looks like it’s my turn.” I
stepped up to the counter the crying man had just left.

She followed me, closing the space I had opened between us. “I
mean, I’m doing good to be conscious at the end of the day.”

“Maybe you should tell this to your mom.” I hoped to deflect her.
I didn’t want to hear any more—not today.

 

“She’s in Alabama,” the young mother said. “Everybody I know has
a mom who acts like a built-in babysitter, but I’m stuck here alone in the
cold.”

“Ten fifty-four,” the salesclerk said in front of me. I dug my
wallet out of my jacket pocket and handed some bills to her.

“You have the most amazing blue eyes.” The clerk leaned forward.
This might have been interesting, if she were not sixtyish, wrinkled, and
stinking of cigarettes.

I held out my hand. “Can I have my change?” 

 “J.J. Lyon is a wife, mom, public relations professional and recovering journalist.

Her passion for prose and love of the American West are so intertwined; she doesn’t think she can separate them. When J.J. runs out of words, she reaches for her camera, takes off on a back road and returns home with a bucketful of inspiration.

She lives in a mountain valley with her husband, three children, some cats, two goats, a bird and a basset hound. 

Facebook | Twitter | WebsiteGoodreads

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

September 29^th – October 3^rd

September 29^th ~ Cabin Goddess ~
Comfort Foods & Reads (Top Ten)

September 29^th ~ Jess resides here ~ Advice for Aspiring Writers (Guest Post)

September 29^th ~ Laura’s Online Interests ~ Promo & Excerpt

September 30^th ~ Pinky’s Favorite Reads ~ Review & an Interview

September 30^th ~ The Road to Nowhere ~ Promo & Excerpt

October 1^st ~ Rebecca Belliston ~ Review & Interview

October 1^st ~ Bookish ~ Review

October 1^st ~ Journeys & Life by Oregonmike ~ Top Ten

October 1^st ~ Mohadoha ~ Writer’s
Wednesday

October 2^nd ~ A Book and a Cup of Coffee ~ Review

October 2^nd ~ Library Girl Reads ~ Promo & Excerpt

October 3^rd ~ Room With Books ~
Promo & Excerpt

October 3^rd ~ Njkinny’s World of Books & Stuff ~ Review

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