BEHIND THE STORY OF LANCASTER HOUSE #7

Today's topic: The Hayes Mansion . . . is it haunted? 

If you missed yesterday's post about my little connection to the Hayes Mansion and how it inspired the writing of Lancaster House, click here.

My time spent exploring the Hayes Mansion in San Jose, California is most definitely a treasured childhood memory. To view the restored mansion, click here: 

http://www.hayesmansion.com/photo-gallery/photo-gallery.asp

However, it was downright creepy. There’s something about old, large, dilapidated houses that leave me looking over my shoulder, even if there’s nothing really scary in the house! Old rambling houses tend to spark my imagination—just the sight of one can send shivers down my spine. They have an ambiance about them—a feel to them, an atmosphere. And they just look like ghosts should inhabit them. Frankly, they creep me out. But just like a cat, curiosity always gets the best of me! I always have a desire to explore all of the nooks and crannies and gaze upon the amazing architecture—just as Zoe does in Lancaster House.

My siblings and I were always convinced that the Hayes Mansion was . . . for lack of a better word, haunted. We never toured the house alone. We always stayed together. For one thing, you could easily get lost. For another, you never knew what might be lurking around the corner. I’m talking about vagrants here, not anything paranormal. But the supernatural aspect was always in the back of our minds, no doubt about it! The feeling inside the house was palpable, like something was about to jump out at you any minute, or as if you were being watched. By what or whom, I have no idea. Yet, we enjoyed our romps through the house. And, to be honest, nothing scary every happened. Not once. Only in our minds!

However, my sister recently toured the renovated mansion. A hotel worker took her on the tour and as she explained our little connection to the mansion, the worker told her the following story:

A lady was staying at the mansion—a VIP—in one of the suites. As she was trying to sleep, she kept hearing the sounds of children playing in the hallway. Fed up, she called the front desk and asked that they please remind the other guests that people are trying to sleep and would they please keep their children quiet.

The front desk said no one was staying on that particular floor with her—and there were no children on that floor.

Tired, the guest shrugged it off and went back to sleep, probably assuming she’d been dreaming. (I guess, because . . . really?) As she tried to get back to sleep, her bedroom door opened of its own accord, and she felt something trying to tug her covers off of her. At this point, she was so freaked out that she ran down to the main lobby in her PJ’s and said she would never stay another night in this hotel! She wouldn’t even go back up to retrieve her luggage; they had to get it for her.

Sounds like something out of a Stephen King movie, right? For me and my siblings it only confirmed what we’ve always known!

It was this kind of ambiance that I tried to capture in the writing of Lancaster House—only not nearly as creepy or scary as this! Are you kidding? I’m a wimp!

COMING NEXT: Learn about another old mansion mentioned in Lancaster House! (Just click and follow along!)

This was originally posted as part of a book tour at Phantasmic Reads.

BEHIND THE STORY OF LANCASTER HOUSE #6

Today's topic: My personal experience with an old, creepy house! 

If you missed yesterday’s post which included an excerpt from Lancaster House, click here.

My own personal experience with exploring a huge, old, creepy mansion definitely came into play while writing Lancaster House. It’s an experience no child should miss, but I now realize how lucky I was to have the opportunity to do so. It’s a rare thing.

My parents became friends with the owner of a mansion in San Jose, California. At one time, the Hayes Mansion practically overlooked a fantastic amusement park called Frontier Village. Check it out here: http://www.frontiervillage.net/ Sadly, Frontier Village was torn down and replaced with condos. The Hayes Mansion still stood proudly in its place, a constant reminder of days gone by, old and dilapidated . . . yet absolutely amazing.

Check out a few pictures of the restored Hayes Mansion here: http://www.hayesmansion.com/photo-gallery/photo-gallery.asp 

Pretty amazing, huh?

My father, a local fire chief, was fascinated with the mansion. The original mansion burned to the ground. When it was re-built, it was “designed to incorporate the latest fire safety features of the day.” Naturally, this alone would attract a fireman! It was through this connection that my father became friends with the owner. My father expressed an interest in touring the house and the owner said yes! At one time there was even talk of our family becoming the caretakers of the house! My parents seriously considered the idea. My siblings and I even had our rooms picked out! Can you imagine? I never would’ve slept a wink! Are you kidding me? It was creepy as heck in there. However, exploring all the nooks and crannies of the Hayes Mansion was an amazing experience. In the end, my parents decided to not become the caretakers of the old mansion. It was only ever talk anyway. But my mother soon realized that while we were all at work and school all day every day, she’d be home alone in the huge monstrosity. No thank you! I don’t blame her one bit! But, it was kinda fun to imagine what it would’ve been like.

Of course, now the old mansion has been restored and is a hotel and conference center. We visited once and ate at the restaurant. It is absolutely beautiful and the food was delicious. We sat rather formerly in a place we had romped through as children, smiling at each other at the irony.

But, you know what? It’s still creepy as heck in there!

Even my big, burly brother-in-law kept looking over his shoulder, for no good reason, except that he felt a little freaked out. Finally, he asked, “Can we leave now?”

It was my memories of exploring the Hayes Mansion that helped me to write Lancaster House. Zoe’s feelings as she wandered the rooms of Lancaster House were very similar to my own as I investigated the old, dilapidated Hayes Mansion.

That being said, could I have moved in by myself into an old mansion like Zoe does in Lancaster House? No way! I’m a wimp. I scared myself while writing this book. Ha!

COMING NEXT: A creepy story about the Hayes Mansion . . .  (Just click and follow along!)

This was originally posted as part of a book tour at LDS and Lovin' it. (Along with a five-star review!)

BEHIND THE STORY OF LANCASTER HOUSE #5

Today's topic: Excerpt with a description of Andre!

If you missed yesterday’s post about another American Idol performance that inspired a scene in Lancaster House, click here.

If you haven't read the other posts in this series, then here's what you need to know: the inspiration behind Lancaster House was an American Idol performance by Adam Lambert! Watch the performance and you’ll see the similarities in the below excerpt! (At least I hope you see them!) Wish I had a better link for you, but I’ve had a hard time finding a good video of the performance, unless you buy it on iTunes, which I did. It’s a hundred times better. This video just doesn’t give the performance justice.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EEQyz0acKNo

The below excerpt is when Zoe first sees Andre, the hero of Lancaster House:

A dense fog began to filter in through the shattered window, filling her home and adding to the unnatural atmosphere of the night. Having caught her breath, Zoe slowly stood. She felt momentarily blinded by the full moon that shone in through the broken window as she tried to focus on the gathering form standing on her staircase, slowly making his way back up . . . towards her.

An entirely new threat was now before her and she had every reason to be scared. Even though the man had saved her from the burglar, he was still a stranger in her home. Her heart knocked against her ribs painfully and she knew her eyes must be as wide as saucers. Slowly, giving the appearance of floating, he ascended the stairs as if rising up out of the fog. Finally, he stood at the top, his stance, wide and firm, a silhouette in the moonlight.

Her vision slowly adjusted and his eyes met hers. She took a step backwards as his gaze hit her with the force of a blow. Luminous, bright green eyes were trained directly on her. His eyes were on fire—gleaming, intense—as if they could look unswervingly into her soul.

She swallowed. “Who are you?” It came out as no more than a whisper.

His eyes seemed to widen in surprise at her words. If possible, his eyes became an even more brilliant shade of green as he looked upon her in a deep, concentrated stare.

“You can see me?” he asked, his voice a raspy whisper—piercing, commanding.

“Of course I can see you. What kind of a question is that?” she said a little frantically.

His eyes became fierce, and then narrowed into thin strips. She took a step backwards, panic evident in her features. She’d never felt as scared in her entire life as she did in that moment. After the last few days, that was saying a lot. At the same time, she was oddly drawn to him, as if he was pulling her into him with his gaze. He was tall, his stature, large. His hair was as black as the night, overly long and spiky at the edges with one long piece that side-swiped his forehead, landing close to his chin. He wore a long black overcoat, a black t-shirt and black jeans with a large silver buckle on his belt. His hands were covered with black fingerless gloves. On his feet were ankle-length boots. He stood with his feet apart, solid on the ground. Slowly, deliberately, one foot slid along the floor to meet his other foot, and then he took a step towards her, moving as if in slow motion.

Zoe backed up and hit the wall, her breathing labored. She tried to back up further, as if she could disappear into the wall and escape. He continued to slowly advance on her until he stood directly in front of her, his green eyes burning into hers. Her head tilted up to him, her breathing labored.

“You can see me?” he asked again, his tone urgent.

“Yes,” she whispered, unable to find her voice.

For several seconds, he simply stared at her, his eyes smoldering. She trembled under his gaze, her bottom lip quivering. One hand reached up, his motions slow, and cupped her cheek. He let out his breath and closed his eyes as if the feel of her did something to him.

“I won’t hurt you, Zoe.”

“How, how do you . . . know my name?” she managed to utter past suddenly dry lips.

“I know everything about you,” he said, his voice soft, engaging.

She felt drawn into him, pulled towards him, pushed closer by an unknown force. His eyes blinked heavily and his head turned slightly to the right as the sound of sirens blared outside, screaming down her street.

“The police are here. The neighbors must’ve heard your screams—and the shattering of glass.”

She nodded.

“Tell them you struggled and he fell out the window. They’ll believe you.”

She nodded again.

“I have to go. You’re safe now. Don’t be scared.”

He left her then. She watched him walk into the shadows of the hallway, and then he was gone.

Spurred into action, she ran to the hall light and flipped it on. She ran the direction in which he’d left until she hit the wall, her hands searching, feeling, groping, for what, she didn’t know—a hidden panel, a secret passageway—anything.

He was gone . . . as if he’d disappeared into thin air.

The sound of the police urgently banging on her door met her ears and relief washed over her. Help was here. The front door burst open as police came charging into her home. She heard them yell, “The door is unlocked! We’re coming in!” They began yelling her name and identifying themselves. Hard footsteps sounded on her stairs. How could my door be unlocked? I never forget to lock my door. It was all too much for her. The world went black as she fell into a dead faint.

COMING NEXT:  My personal experience with an old, creepy house! (Just click and follow!)

This was originally posted during a book tour at Proud Book Nerd.

BEHIND THE STORY OF LANCASTER HOUSE #4

Today's topic: Another American Idol performance that inspired a scene in Lancaster House!

If you missed yesterday's post about the "writing secrets" in Lancaster House, click here.

Most of you already know that Adam Lambert’s performance of ‘Mad World’ in the Season 8 finale inspired me to write Lancaster House. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EEQyz0acKNo 

There is one other performance of Adam’s that inspired a certain scene in Lancaster House. I don’t want to give too much away and spoil the story, but there is a certain scene where the hero and heroine are separated. The resulting romantic angst in this scene is extreme. In this scene the heroine falls to her knees and screams the hero’s name several times. I actually watched this particular performance of Adam’s several times as I wrote the scene.

It was disco night on American Idol. Adam surprised us all by doing a ballad of “If I can’t Have You.” It was an amazing rendition. As he sings the song, there is one note where he just . . . screams-sings, for lack of a better word. To me that note was filled with the romantic angst that I wanted to capture in my scene of Lancaster House.

Here’s a link to the video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lnIO9o1SNF8

If Lancaster House was ever made into a movie, (wishful thinking) I would vote for this song to be played during this particular scene. That’s how much the song is tied to the scene in my head!

COMING NEXT: An excerpt which includes a description of Andre, the hero of Lancaster House. (Just click and follow!)

This was originally posted during a book tour at Oh, The Books You'll Read. (Along with five-star reviews!)

BEHIND THE STORY OF LANCASTER HOUSE #3

Today's topic: Hidden ‘writing secrets' in Lancaster House! 

If you missed yesterday's post about the American Idol performance that inspired Lancaster House, click here.

Lancaster House contains many secret passageways and hidden rooms. It’s definitely part of its charm. The house itself is a main character in the book without me intentionally writing it that way. But Lancaster House isn’t the only one keeping secrets. I couldn’t resist adding a couple of secrets of my own into the writing of this book.

First I need to explain. I vividly remember sitting in my California Lit class in high school, listening to my teacher explain the hidden meanings John Steinbeck placed in the Grapes of Wrath—the types of things that are in Cliff Notes. I was mesmerized. I was impressed. Like the preacher’s name was Jim Casy. Initials: J.C. By no mistake did Mr. Steinbeck choose those initials—he chose the name Jim Casy to mimic the initials Jesus Christ. At least this is what my teacher taught me. Did Mr. Steinbeck confirm this? I have no idea. I’ve always wondered if these types of things are made up by people who study classic literature or if the author really intended it that way! Still, the concept fascinated me. Next I learned about East of Eden. The father’s name is Adam, and his son’s names are Caleb and Aron. (Father Adam=C for Cain and A for Abel) At any rate, you get the whole initial idea thing. To a young student of literature, this was intriguing and I never forgot it. (I grew up living only an hour away from John Steinbeck’s infamous Cannery Row, hence the obsession with Steinbeck.)

With the above thoughts in mind, I set out to name my hero. Since the visual of Adam Lambert was the image that inspired my main character, I decided to stick with A.L. as the initials. Andre Lancaster. Yes, I’ll put secrets in my book just like John Steinbeck, I thought. Brilliant.

Okay, so it’s not that amazing. But it felt amazing. The kind of thing that made me smile to myself whenever I thought about it.

There is one other similarity to Adam Lambert and American Idol placed in Lancaster House. During the American Idol season, Adam Lambert would show up on stage dressed in his casual attire, with his hair flopping over one eye, looking like an anime rocker. In the next performance he’d show up with his hair slicked back, dressed in a classy suit, singing “Tracks of my Tears.”

To view Adam’s performance of “Tracks of my Tears,” click here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uc2lXKuXUD8

Do you see what I mean? It's a total transformation! I couldn’t resist having my main character do the same.

COMING NEXT: Another American Idol performance that inspired a certain scene in Lancaster House! (Just click and follow!)

This was originally posted during a book tour at Fundinmental.

BEHIND THE STORY OF LANCASTER HOUSE #2

Today's topic: The American Idol performance that inspired Lancaster House!

To read yesterday's post about, "What inspired me to write a paranormal romance?" Click here!

Now to get to the tidbit you’ve all been waiting for! How the heck did an American Idol performance inspire Lancaster House? Good question. I’m not really sure myself, but somehow the visual kicked my imagination into overdrive. Season 8 of American Idol blew me away. I thought Adam Lambert was amazing in every single performance. During the finale, Adam once again sang his haunting rendition of ‘Mad World.’ Even my husband was impressed by this performance, and that’s saying a lot because he isn’t usually impressed by singing performances. (Ever) Adam performed while wearing vampire-like garb on a fog-shrouded stage.

This link is a very poor video of the performance. I couldn't find another one and I'm surprised that there are not more links to it. I own a perfect copy of it that I purchased through iTunes. I watched it umpteen times as I wrote Lancaster House.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EEQyz0acKNo

It’s a haunting performance—like Twilight, the Musical or something! I remember saying to my daughter, “Now that’s how I pictured Edward.” My daughter, a book-a-holic, immediately corrected me. “That’s not how Edward is described at all, Mom.” She was right and I knew it, but I have this nasty habit of picturing the hero of the story the way I want to picture him, no matter how the author describes him. Adam wasn’t Edward. Not by a long shot. But, he was how I pictured Edward. There was only one thing to do.

Write my own story.

The visual of Adam rising up out of the stage amidst fog and then pausing before he began to sing, the way his movements were slow and dreamlike—all of it left me intrigued. It screamed paranormal story. What if a man appeared in my home looking like that? (sans the microphone!) What if he was a ghost? I would be scared and fascinated all at the same time. It was at that moment that Lancaster House was born. 

It wasn’t quite that easy, of course. My hubby and I spent an entire car drive to Idaho (driving our daughter to college) hashing out all of the details of the story. By the time we arrived home, I had my story in my mind, beginning to finish.

And it was all due to one amazing performance sparking my imagination.

COMING NEXT: A few more 'writing secrets' concerning Adam Lambert in Lancaster House. (Just click and follow!)

This was originally posted during a book tour at I'm a Reader, Not a Writer.

BEHIND THE STORY OF LANCASTER HOUSE

What inspired me to write a paranormal romance? 

I write romance in all of its many sub-genres: paranormal, suspense, contemporary. The main theme is always ROMANCE. It’s what I love to write. My daughter called me one day and challenged me to write a paranormal story. It’s her favorite genre—and she doesn’t really enjoy romantic angst in other forms. Of course, I begged her to read all of my other books, so really she just wanted me to write something she would LOVE. (Although she did enjoy my other books, they just weren’t exactly her cup of tea—besides, who wants to read a romance novel written by their mother? Actually one of my other daughters is my BIGGEST fan, but I digress.) “Mom,” she said, “Let’s both write a paranormal story and see what comes of them.” I responded with, “My mind just doesn’t think that way.” Truth be told, I didn’t really want to write anything paranormal and I kinda dismissed the whole idea pretty quickly, even though I found myself promising her I’d think about a plot as we hung up.

Paranormal? Really? No way, I thought, I write about sweet ROMANCE, not things that go bump in the night. Not going to happen, I told myself. This was during the Twilight craze (has that ended?) and I figured the world had seen enough paranormal! Although I love Twilight, I admit it. Okay, back to the story. At about this same time, I was ridiculously addicted to American Idol. With the crazed excitement of a groupie, I watched every minute of the Season 8 finale.

And then it happened.

Who’d of thought that an American Idol performance could inspire a 90,000 word novel? Not me. But it did. Go figure.

COMING NEXT: Which American Idol performance inspired Lancaster House? (just click and follow!)

This was originally posted during a book tour at Unputdownable Books.

MID-TOUR UPDATE

On tour with Prism Book Tours...

My blog tour host put together this wonderful mid-tour update. Each date gives a little teaser as to what was posted on each blog on that day. So here it is, a brief overview of the tour so far!

BTW, all of the posts link to each other--through secret passageways or Lancaster House-like rooms.

So cool! Enjoy!

Welcome to a unique tour with Lancaster House and its sequel, The Middle Aisle, by Taylor Dean:  

©iStockphoto.com/tinabelle

2/11 – Unputdownable Books – Guest Post

What inspired me to write a paranormal romance?

2/12 – I AmA Reader, Not a Writer – Guest Post 

The American Idol performance that inspired Lancaster House

2/13 - Fundinmental Guest Post 

Hidden writing secrets in Lancaster House!

Fundimental Review of Lancaster House & The Middle Aisle

2/13          Letters to the Cosmos – Review

. . . thought-provoking romantic read that isn't afraid to confront darkness . . .

2/14 – Oh,The Books You’ll Read – Review

I didn't think that this book (The Middle Aisle) would be as good as the first one but I was wrong. Taylor Dean is a literary genius.

   2/14         Proud Book Nerd – Excerpt

When Zoe first sees Andre!

2/15 – LDS& Lovin’ It – Review

I wanted to actually leap into the book and visit the place, old and damaged or not. I loved the idea of secret hiding places and staircases that go nowhere.

2/17 - PhantasmicReads - Guest Post

The Hayes Mansion . . . is it haunted?

2/17          Lavender & Camomile Press Highlight

2/18 – TheReading Diaries – Excerpt and Review

An excerpt that describes Lancaster House

The Reading Diaries review of Lancaster House and The Middle Aisle

2/19   Colorimetry - Guest Post

The mansion that served as inspiration for writing Lancaster House

2/19 -  Living a Goddess Life – Review Lancaster House

". . . the imaginative Lancaster House within the novel really captured my attention . . ."

2/19      Beck Valley Books – Guest Post

I Scared Myself! (while writing Lancaster House)

2/20 – Living the Goddess Life –  Recipe

2/21 – Passion and Life – Guest Post

-          Books Mystify – Goodreads Review

2/22 – Christy’s Cozy Corner – Review

2/24 – Christy’s Cozy Corner – Review

2/25 – Living a Goddess Life – Review

-          Icultgen – Guest Post

2/26 – Who’s Thanny?  (Byzinha) – Review

-          Letters to the Cosmos – Review

2/27 – Living a Goddess Life – Recipe

2/28 – A Buckeye Girl Reads – Review

3/1 – Grand Finale TBA...

Lancaster House & The Middle Aisle, available in print or eCopy from Smashwords or Amazon:

Taylor Dean:

Taylor Dean lives in Texas and is the mother of four grown children. Upon finding herself with an empty nest, she began to write the stories that were always wandering around in her head, quickly finding that she had a passion for writing, specifically romance. Whether it's paranormal, contemporary, or suspense-you'll find all sub-genres of romance in her line-up.

Find & Follow:

Website/Blog

Facebook
Twitter

Goodreads
Smashwords

Tour-Wide Giveaway:

5 WINNERS in USA will receive.... Signed copies of Lancaster House and The Middle Aisle, two Lancaster House bookmarks, two pencils that say, "Believe it, Know it, Accept it," and a cute little tote bag.

5 International Winners will receive... eCopy of Lancaster House & The Middle Aisle

Open only to those who can legally enter. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by Rafflecopter and announced on Rafflecopter and Grand Finale posts as well as emailed and the winner will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Burgandy Ice @ Colorimetry and Prism Book Tours and sponsored by Taylor Dean. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

NEVER QUIT!

I found this quote on Facebook and posted it to my Taylor Dean Books page. I LOVE this quote. Mostly because I feel like I'm not REALLY a writer, I'm just a stay-at-home mom with an active imagination who decided to try her hand at writing the stories wandering around in her head all the time. The results have been pretty amazing, but it hasn't been an easy road by any means!

The lesson learned: NEVER QUIT!

Lancaster House and The Middle Aisle Book Tour

My Book Tour launched today!

Want to know all of the fascinating little tidbits that inspired me to write Lancaster House?

I invite you to follow along!

On tour with Prism Book Tours...

Welcome to a unique tour with Lancaster House and its sequel, The Middle Aisle, by Taylor Dean.  


©iStockphoto.com/tinabelle

Lancaster House is an old Victorian mansion that is rumored to be haunted by ghosts. Zoe Grayson, interior decorator extraordinaire, sees the beauty beneath years of neglect (oddly, not much dust) and buys it with her inheritance. She plans to restore it room by room and resell it for a profit. She does not plan on falling in love with the old house, but she does. In fact, no one could love it as much as she does... except for the eccentric architect who created it over eighty years ago. 

Zoe's story begins in a psychiatric ward where she is questioned about the strange things going on in her house, things not explained by one slight woman living alone. 

To discover the truth, we're going to ask Taylor Dean to go back to the beginning... back to where her Inspiration for this story began... back to Taylor's usual genre: Clean Romance. And... The Challenge...

To begin the Tour, please visit Unputdownable Books, right through the entryway. It's ok... you don't believe in ghosts, do you?

The Tour:

Fundimental Review of Lancaster House & The Middle Aisle

2/11 – Unputdownable Books – Guest Post

2/12 – I Am A Reader, Not a Writer – Guest Post 

2/13 - Fundinmental Guest Post 

-          Letters to the Cosmos – Review

2/14 – Oh, The Books You’ll Read – Review

-          Proud Book Nerd – Guest Post

2/15 – LDS & Lovin’ It – Review

2/17 - Phantasmic Reads - Review

-          Lavender & Camomile Press Guest Post

2/18 – The Reading Diaries – Guest Post

2/19 -  Living a Goddess Life – Review

-          Beck Valley Books – Guest Post

2/20 – Living the Goddess Life –  Recipe

-          Colorimetry 

2/21 – Passion and Life – Guest Post

-          Books Mystify – Goodreads Review

2/22 – Christy’s Cozy Corner – Review

2/24 – Christy’s Cozy Corner – Review

2/25 – Living a Goddess Life – Review

-          Icultgen – Guest Post

2/26 – Who’s Thanny?  (Byzinha) – Review

-          Letters to the Cosmos – Review

2/27 – Living a Goddess Life – Recipe

   -          Tressa – Goodreads Reviewer

2/28 – A Buckeye Girl Reads – Review

3/1 – Grand Finale TBA...

Lancaster House & The Middle Aisle, available in print or eCopy from Smashwords or Amazon:

Taylor Dean:

Taylor Dean lives in Texas and is the mother of four grown children. Upon finding herself with an empty nest, she began to write the stories that were always wandering around in her head, quickly finding that she had a passion for writing, specifically romance. Whether it's paranormal, contemporary, or suspense-you'll find all sub-genres of romance in her line-up.

Find & Follow:

Website/Blog

Facebook
Twitter

Goodreads
Smashwords

Tour-Wide Giveaway:

5 WINNERS in USA will receive.... Signed copies of Lancaster House and The Middle Aisle, two Lancaster House bookmarks, two pencils that say, "Believe it, Know it, Accept it," and a cute little tote bag.

5 International Winners will receive... eCopy of Lancaster House & The Middle Aisle

Open only to those who can legally enter. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by Rafflecopter and announced on Rafflecopter and Grand Finale posts as well as emailed and the winner will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Burgandy Ice @ Colorimetry and Prism Book Tours and sponsored by Taylor Dean. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

THE PERFECT TREE

Blake Kiser is a 12-year-old boy who has given up his latest summer to help out more around the farm. It's not like he has much else to do though—his best friend, Matt, has moved away, leaving Blake more alone than ever, until Greta arrives. Gretchen Wills is a bit of an oddity, who stands out even more in the quiet country town of Hemingford, like a firefly in a dark basement. But like every firefly, shine too bright and you're bound to get caught.

Blake shows Greta some of Hemingford's local color, including the old Bradley House—a house every kid in Hemingford believes to be haunted. They are enthralled by the broken-down shack and the eerie tales that surround it—stories of the man who used to live there. But they find something much more concrete than ghosts waiting within: a crude man who becomes a very unlikely friend. But as wicked crimes are committed throughout the rural community, Blake witnesses the quiet town of Hemingford transform into something ugly he doesn't recognize—and suddenly, childish fears of ghosts and monsters seem irrelevant in the wake of true, tangible danger.

The Perfect Tree is a novel about trust, who you should and who you shouldn't, and the people who surprise you along the way. Truly, like nature, we all harbor the capacity for good, evil, and the various degrees in between.

Sounds like an intriguing read, doesn't it? Notice how the tree on the cover can be used for good or evil? Deep, I know! Here's how I found this amazing book:

A few weeks ago I received a direct message on Twitter. It was from a gentleman, letting me know that he was reading Lancaster House. I was thrilled. 

At the same time, I felt a little nervous. While many men have really enjoyed Lancaster House, it is overwhelmingly a romance novel. And I guess I think of my books as ‘girl books.’ I don’t feel that men are my target audience.

However, I was pleased when I received another message from this same gentleman, letting me know that he was ‘digging’ Lancaster House.

Whew!

A few days later, I received another message from the gentleman. Would I be interested in reading his newly published novel and swapping reviews on our blogs?

I don’t do reviews. I don’t have time. If I spend my time reading novels and writing reviews, I’d never get any writing done! However, being that this was a mutually beneficial swap of reviews, I readily agreed. I felt flattered to be approached with the idea and it seemed like a great opportunity to help a fellow author. Besides, I love to read—any excuse to do so and I’ll grab it!

Then I was filled with trepidation. What if I don’t like his novel? How do I write my review? What if he hates my novel? What if he gives me a bad review? What if I like his novel and he hates mine?

You get the idea. 

Image courtesy of [Salvatore Vuono] / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

I pushed aside my worries and downloaded his book to my Kindle.

The Perfect Tree, written by Kenneth Scott Harris, is not my usual read. I like clean adult romance. To my surprise, however, the book hooked me from the very beginning. It is very well written and flows beautifully. I found myself feeling anxious to see where the story was going and this doesn’t always happen to me when reading a book. I have a few books sitting on my kindle that I’ve never finished because they didn’t capture my attention. (I’m sure they’re wonderful books, they just weren’t for me.) Not the case with The Perfect Tree. Every day I looked forward to entering Blake and Greta’s world once again.

The Perfect Tree is a ‘coming of age’ story. It captures the feelings of childhood perfectly—that stage in life when you’re still a kid, but you’re making the transition into the teenage years. The characters of Blake and Greta act and think like real children and I think this is what kept me so very intrigued. I love a book that portrays a child as a child, with child-like thoughts, not adult thoughts. It reminded me of my childhood; the innocence, the carefree days, and the first tender feelings of young love. The relationship between Blake and Greta is endearing. The Perfect Tree has a ‘feel’ to it, a certain ambiance that stayed with me after I finished the book. I know this is a somewhat cliché concept, but I couldn’t stop thinking about it for days afterwards.

In essence, the young characters are intrigued by a ‘haunted house’ said to be inhabited by a ghost. I assumed the book was going to be some kind of ghost story and I felt that tingly anticipation as my heart raced that little bit faster. Sorry, no spoilers! However, the characters soon find that there are many things in life that are worse than ghosts. The innocence of childhood ends and their eyes are ‘opened.’ I greatly enjoyed the book and it’s an easy five star rating. And the ending—well, the ending is AMAZING. I wanted more! I found myself daydreaming about what happened next. Again, no spoilers. You’ll have to read it! It’ll be worth your time.

Meet the author of The Perfect Tree:

Kenneth S. Harris has a B.A. in English. His passion for crafting fiction has led to the creation of his first novel, The Perfect Tree, and several short stories. He currently lives in Richmond, KY where he works as part of the Content and Social Media Team at Consultwebs.com.

Find Kenneth Scott Harris here: http://www.kennethscottharris.com/

The Perfect Tree is available on AMAZON.

I asked Mr. Harris to share a few of his thoughts on The Perfect Tree:

What was your inspiration for writing The Perfect Tree?

The Perfect Tree was inspired by a "true" story originally told to me by my Grandmother, and then echoed again by other people in the community. It was about a lonely, old man who went missing nearby a long time ago. He was found hanging from a tree in the woods, or so the story goes. I thought it was such a sad tale that he was so lonely he chose to end his life. That inspired the short story, "The Perfect Tree," which was the first story I ever published in a peer-reviewed literary magazine at the college where I obtained my B.A. The story is now the prologue of the novel and actually exists within the characters' world, penned by a unique woman, Alfie Mae Piper (Pip, the narrator of the short story).

I was happy to see the short story become so much more and fit so well into the novel. I'm sure Alfie Mae would be happy too. 

Does The Perfect Tree include any personal experiences from your childhood?

Several parts of the book were also inspired by my childhood. For instance, the relationship between Blake and Greta is reminiscent of a fantastic friend I had growing up. Van is also based on a culmination of bullies I tried to steer clear of as a child.

And Fall Festivals, especially as a child, are simply magical. Therefore, I tried to capture that magic in the book.

Thank you, Mr. Harris, for a wonderful book!

Romance is in the Air Blog Hop

Romance is in the Air Giveaway Hop

Featuring Young Adult & Clean Adult Romance

February 8th to 14th 

Thank you so much for stopping by!
If you enjoy Clean Adult Romance, you've come to the right place!

For my giveaway, I'll be awarding TWO prize packs which will include:
(US: choice of paperback or ebook/International: ebook only)

 *A signed paperback of Sierra (Romantic Suspense)
*A signed paperback of I Have People (Contemporary Romance)
*A cute little heart tote bag
*Two I Have People 'hot pink' pencils
(to always remind you to be thankful for the 'people' in your life)

To enter the giveaway, use the rafflecopter below:
(don't forget to keep on hopping with the linky list!)


a Rafflecopter giveaway

KINDLE FIRE GIVEAWAY

I'm participating, once again, in the Kindle Fire Giveaway, hosted by I'm a Reader, Not a Writer.

Myself and 28 other awesome authors are promoting our books, and offering the public a chance to win a Kindle Fire!

Would you like to enter?

Click here.

Good Luck!

SNEAK PEEK OF JOSHUA'S FOLLY

Here's a sneak peek of the prologue to Joshua's Folly:

Marisa’s eyes fluttered open, her lashes tickling her tear-stained cheeks.  The surrounding room was unfamiliar and for just a moment she wondered where she was.

She sat up quickly, too quickly. Pain washed through her little body in waves, the kind of pain she’d never felt before in all of her eleven years.

She almost cried out, but then she remembered where she was and she didn’t want to wake up her new family. If she caused too much trouble, maybe they wouldn’t want her anymore, maybe they’d send her away.

Where would she go?

They were nice. They were kind. They told her they loved her very much.

They were strangers.

Her stomach rumbled loudly. She hadn’t eaten very much dinner. If they thought she didn’t eat very much then they’d know she wouldn’t be too much of a nuisance to them. And they’d keep her. Please let me stay, I don’t have anywhere else to go.

Marisa’s eyes wandered around the room. It was just like a room she’d seen in a magazine once. It was called, “a little girl’s dream room.” Everything was pink. The walls were pink, the carpet was pink, the bedspread was pink, the ruffled canopy overhead was pink.

She liked pink.

It was a beautiful room. A room for a princess. She especially liked the wallpaper border. It was filled with pink bows all connected together as if the bows were holding hands.

She should feel happy.

But she didn’t. She felt so sad that all she wanted to do was cry. Not just cry, she wanted to sob.

I want my mommy and daddy.

Marisa berated herself. She wasn’t five years old anymore. But it didn’t stop her from yearning for her mommy and daddy.

Mary had left the hall light on. Her room wasn’t dark. That was good because she hated the dark. The dark scared her.

Everything scared her.

She wanted to go home.

Mary said this was her home now.

But it wasn’t her home and it never would be. She didn’t have a home anymore. She didn’t have a mommy and daddy anymore.

Marisa collapsed onto her bed and curled into a tight little ball. The movement made the pain come back. She changed positions, straightening her legs, stretching them out as far as they would go in the huge double bed. She told her body to relax and let her sleep.

It didn’t work.

The pain wouldn’t let her sleep. No position was comfortable. The sheets felt cool on her skin. The nightgown was brand new and made her skin feel itchy. The room felt weird and kinda creepy. It was so unfamiliar, so foreign. Marisa grabbed the cute little teddy bear sitting on the nightstand and hugged it tightly to her chest. Clearly, Mary and Jerome had wanted a younger child. A cute, frilly little girl who would squeal at the sight of ‘the little girl’s dream room.’ She couldn’t be that little girl. A few more tears escaped as she cried as quietly as she could. Her heart hurt the most of anything, as if she didn’t have a heart in her chest anymore; instead it was a huge, heavy rock. A boulder. Lodged in her chest. Heavy and tight.

Marisa’s eyes wandered the room again. Everything was brand sparkling new. Fresh.

Except for herself. She was broken. Damaged.

I’m sooooo cold.

Her eye’s wandered to the hallway. The walls were covered with family pictures. Framed, nameless faces. More strangers. I don’t belong here. I don’t belong anywhere. I’m all alone.

Totally alone.

Marisa climbed out of bed. She couldn’t sleep. Not here. Not ever. Mary said the pain would lessen as time went by. Mary said she hoped she would be very happy here. She liked Mary. Very much.

But sleep was so hard. Nighttime was so cold. And she was so alone.

Marisa tiptoed into the hallway and stared at Mary’s family pictures. Happy, smiling faces. Joyful occasions. The precious moments of life, captured and remembered forever.

Her eyes rested on one photo in particular. Once it caught her attention, she was hard pressed to look away. Warmth trickled through her body, right down to her toes. It was the first time she’d felt warm in many days.

It was a picture of a young man. He was handsome, maybe just a few years older than her. He smiled into the camera as if he didn’t have a care in the world. He was outdoors, the sun shining in his windblown hair, his blue eyes glistening with life. He looked directly into the camera lens, giving her the sense that he was staring into her own eyes. There was something about him that made her feel . . . safe, and she longed to climb into the photo, just to be at his side.

“Stay with me forever and never leave me. Promise?” she’d ask him.

“I promise,” he’d say. “I love you, Marisa. I love you.”

Sometimes a promise to stay together forever didn’t work out. She knew that all too well.

Mary must’ve sensed her restlessness because she came to check on her. “Marisa, are you okay, sweetheart?”

“Yes, I’m so sorry if I woke you.”

“You didn’t. I just wanted to make sure you were doing all right.”

“I’m okay,” Marisa answered, trying to force a smile. Be happy. Be thankful. Be on your best behavior.

“Trouble sleeping?” Mary asked, concern lacing her features.

“Yes, I’m sorry. I’ll go back to bed. I didn’t mean to disturb you.”

“You didn’t, Marisa, really. I wanted to check on you. I was worried about you,” Mary said, touching her shoulder softly.

Mary was wonderful. Really wonderful. Marisa valiantly held back the tears that threatened to erupt. Maybe even explode. She wasn’t sure, but she knew if she started crying, she might start screaming too. It wouldn’t be pretty.

“Who is this?” Marisa asked, pointing to the picture of the handsome young man. Another glance at him and the same thing happened. Warmth infused her body.

“That’s my nephew, Joshua. He lives in Texas on our family’s cattle ranch.”

“He’s very handsome.”

“Yes, he is.”

“He reminds me of a prince in a fairy tale, you know, the ones who always save the damsel in distress. The knight in shining armor who rides up on his white steed and whisks the princess away to his castle.” Marisa sighed. “I read a lot,” she said by way of explanation for her overactive imagination.

Mary smiled. “Joshua is that kind of a young man, always ready to help anyone in need.”

A few tense moments of silence passed. Marisa continued to hold the ever-threatening tears at bay. The constant, raw ache inside of her body, mind, and spirit refused to subside. Would it always be a part of her?

 “I’ll be right back,” Mary said softly as she walked away rather purposefully.

Marisa heard the sounds of rummaging through boxes from the hallway closet. She breathed in deeply and let the air out slowly, feeling completely overwhelmed by her new life circumstances. Slowly, she placed her fingers to her lips and kissed them softly. Then she placed her fingers to the picture of Joshua. “Save me,” she whispered.

 When Mary returned, she held a picture in her hands. It was the same picture of Joshua that graced the wall.

“Come on, let’s get you tucked back into bed.”

Mary took her by the hand and led her to the pink canopied bed. She carefully helped her to slide under the covers, then pulled the blankets up to her chin. She placed a soft kiss on her forehead ever so lightly.

“Here’s a picture of Joshua for you,” she said as she slipped it under her pillow. “There. Now Joshua will always be with you, keeping you safe at night. He won’t let anything happen to you, I promise. He’ll be your very own guardian angel, your very own handsome prince.”

“Thank you, Mary,” Marisa breathed as sleep claimed her.

She was safe.