Death Cheater by Danielle Thorne

Available Wednesday, February 15th is Danielle Thorne's new 'Sweet' Young Adult Paranormal.  Be sure to check it out.  Danielle is a fantastic author!  Visit her website to learn more about her other books.

Athena Gray lives vicariously through her sister because people in general avoid her. Whether it's strange things like dead butterflies fluttering to life, or the time she saved her dying grandpa just by willing him to live, Athena knows that she is different. The only person who doesn't seem to think so is Dan, the most popular boy on Omega High School's baseball team. But even Dan can't understand the reason she acts haunted, until a spirit roaming the local historic burial mounds takes an interest in people Athena cares about.


EXCERPT

A low rumble echoed around me, and the tall, dark trees went still. Not even a leaf stirred. My heart hummed, and a tingle of apprehension made my palms damp. A snarl came from the shadow of a tangled thorn bush, and soft, padding footsteps shuffled in the late afternoon gloom. My breathing went ragged with fear. Maybe it was a raccoon or an angry squirrel.

Athena.

Whipping around, I stared hard into the murk. A voice. It sounded gentle, but at the same time it sent chills down my arms. I glanced up through the hooded canopy of tree branches and tried to see heaven.

God?

There was a growl, and the terror I'd been holding at bay zipped up my spine into my skull. I was sure my long hair stood on end, like when kids touched the electrostatic generator at the science museum.

Something was coming for me, and it wasn't something from the woods. It'd been following me all day. Maybe even my entire life.

Theresa Stillwagon Interview & Giveaway

Theresa's Bio: Theresa Stillwagon has been writing most of her life. Since one of her teachers praised a poem she wrote for a class assignment, she's been putting words together in the hopes of seeing them in print. Not caring if anyone other than herself ever read them. Her dreams came to reality in 2008 when she signed her first writing contract. She's now just signed her fourth one and isn't looking back.

A former resident of the state of Ohio, Theresa now lives in her RV in the sunny city of Savanah, Georgia with her husband of twenty-seven years, Mike, and her two cats, Fred and Barney. She's currently seeking for a job while still hard at work on her next romance.



[Anne] Name one of your favorite books as a child.

[Theresa] I really can't think of one. It's been so long since I've been a child. One book that comes to mind is The Little Engine that Could.

[Anne] Do you have a favorite author?

[Theresa] Not really. I love reading and have a lot of them.

[Anne] Out of all the books you’ve read, which one comes immediately to your mind? If there is a favorite scene you remember, please share.

[Theresa] Salem's Lot. And the scene is the one where the kid is scratching at the other boy's window. I read this many, many years ago, and I still remember how scared I was after reading that scene. Late at night, with the wind blowing, I had scratching at the window. Believe me, I stopped reading.

[Anne] Your favorite vacation spot (whether you have been there or not)?

[Theresa] I love Gettysburg, PA. I've been there a few times, hoping to experience some ghostly residence, but no such luck. Love the place.

[Anne] Which would you rather have: A custom closet or a custom kitchen?

[Theresa] A kitchen, even though I'm not much of a cook. I like shopping for new clothing even less.

[Anne] It’s Saturday afternoon and you’re home alone. What are you wearing? And yes, you must have clothes on.

[Theresa] A comfortable long t-shirt and a pair of green socks.

[Anne] What’s your favorite dish?

[Theresa] Spaghetti.

[Anne] Other than writing, what do you enjoy doing?

[Theresa] Reading, messing around on line, or playing an online game called My Free Farm. It's amazing I get anything done.

[Anne] You’ve just landed a multi-book contract with a major publisher! Which vehicle would we be more likely to see you driving after you’ve collected your huge advance: a Hummer, RV, truck, muscle car, or BMW?

[Theresa] A BMW. A friend had one, and I loved riding in it.

[Anne] What’s your favorite television show? Movie?

[Theresa] NCIS. (Love those guys.) I don't really have a favorite movie. I love The Mummy and Lord of the Rings series, though.

[Anne] You’ve won a talent show! What act did you perform?

[Theresa] I've thought and thought on this and can't come up with anything. I've decided I'm the most untalented person around. I have sung in a choir before, and nobody told me to shut up, so I guess I sang. (With a choir of voices behind me.)

[Anne] Would you rather have the power to be invisible or be able to fly, and why?

[Theresa] I want both but if I have to choose only one I'll say to fly. I'll be able to get places without standing in a long line at the airport. Plus I'll get to my destination quicker.

[Anne] What was one of the most surprising things you learned during your journey to publication?

[Theresa] I think the most surprising thing I learned was that I could actually write. I'd finally found something that I could do reasonably well.

[Anne] What was the most interesting research you did for a book?

[Theresa] I research flying for one of my released books. I enjoyed that.

[Anne] Where do you go when you need to get inspired to write?

[Theresa] Someplace quiet where I can be alone. I can't write with any kind of noise or people around me.

[Anne] Do you have any writing quirks?

[Theresa] Not really. Other than having a pot of coffee nearby, and quietness, I'm fine.

[Anne] What do you think makes a good story?

[Theresa] Well-rounded, real characters and a believable conflict. The more damaged the character the better.

[Anne] What are you working on now?

[Theresa] I'm actually working on two things now. The third book in The Sisters Callaway, A Difficult Choice, and the second book in my paranormal series with Beachwalk Press, The Dressmaker's Dilemma. I can do two at once because they are so different. I'm trying to finish The Dressmaker's Dilemma now.

[Anne] Complete this scene: It was raining. The man came out of nowhere, and before I knew it....

He grabbed me up and twisted me toward the wall. I screamed and fought against his tight hold, kicking the sharp heel of my shoe into his calf. He groaned out my name.

"Didn't I worn you I'd hurt you if you touch me again?"

He groaned again.

I kicked out my foot once again, hard, connecting with his right knee. Pleasure raced through me as he loosened his hold and dropped me to the ground. "That's what you get for not believing me."

Great job, Theresa! I loved your answers. Folks, be sure to comment throughout the month on one of Theresa's posts for the chance to win one of her ebooks.

In the Spirit of Halloween – Guest Post by Cate Masters

Halloween's my second favorite holiday. Its traditions and mystery intrigued me when I was a girl, and even moreso now. Halloween legends, superstitions, myths and beliefs provide an endless wealth of story material.

According to legend, All Hallow's Eve is the one night of the year when the barrier between two worlds of the living and the dead dissolves, allowing visitors from The Other Side. I wove that notion into my Halloween-themed novella, One Soul for Sale, available digitally from Eternal Press: http://www.eternalpress.biz/book.php?isbn=9781926704043 and in print from Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/One-Soul-Sale-Cate-Masters/dp/1926704126/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1245414332&sr=1-1 Check my blog at http://catemasters.blogspot.com/ to learn how you can win a copy.

Here are some of the spookier superstitions and beliefs about Halloween and souls:

According to an old saying, if a candle's flame goes out on Halloween, then a ghost is visiting you.

If you see a spider on Halloween, it could be the spirit of a dead loved one looking out for you.

Ancients believed ghosts could be weighed down, so used tombstones to keep them in place.

Because some believed spirits could only travel in a straight line, mazes found at the entrance to many ancient tombs may have been intended to keep the spirit of the dead from returning to the world.

Some people believed that a person's soul remained for 24 hours after death. Members of the family, or friends of the deceased, often sat with the body of their loved one to prevent the devil from stealing the soul.

If a dead person’s eyes are left open, he’ll find someone to take with him.

If you touch a loved one who has died, you won’t dream about them.

If you look at your shadow in the moonlight on All Hallows Eve, death will find you.

Thunder following a funeral means that the dead person's soul has reached heaven.

If you see an owl diving on Halloween night, it's coming to take your soul away.

Originally, adults dressed up in furs, masks and cloaks to hide from mischievous spirits who might be looking for them.

Likewise with collecting treats – children went from door to door to collect soul cakes on Halloween, and said a prayer for the dead after receiving food. Others put out food to appease evil spirits and feed any dead who might visit. By 1900, it was all for fun.

One Soul for Sale is a fun read, too. Reviews described it as “outstanding,” a “riveting read… I couldn’t stop until I hit the last page.”

Here’s an excerpt:

Madelyn gazes out the window, adrift as a leaf. “Everything’s on a downhill slide – work, dating, all of it. Sometimes I think I have to sell my soul to get what I really want in life.”

“Well, that’s easy – put it on uBuy.” Gwen shakes her cup to stir up sugar from the bottom.

“You’re such a comedian.” Madelyn reinforces Gwen’s dream at every opportunity. Her friend reciprocates by being Madelyn’s best cheerleader for her art, though lately, her sketches are as uninspired as the rest of her life.

“I try my best.” Gwen’s been revising her standup act for months, perfecting it so she can one day actually perform before a crowd at a comedy club rather than open mike night. Or in front of her bedroom mirror.

Their meager salaries don’t allow for luxury, so neither is a stranger to the allure of uBuy, and both feed their addiction to the site daily. Madelyn finds designer clothing bargains while Gwen goes for vintage. Besides supplementing their wardrobes, Madelyn and Gwen love uBuy for its oddities. The odder an item is, the more appeal it has. Madelyn’s desktop swaying, ukele-strumming hula-skirted Gumby is testament to this. Gwen collects memorabilia of famous comedians; Groucho Marx is a favorite.

On that level, Gwen’s offhand suggestion appeals to Madelyn. “I should list my soul, just for kicks. To see what response I’d get.” People have sold stranger things. Maybe some cute guy would buy it, and who knows where that might lead. She’s already tried online dating, though. Cyberspace, she found, is not a good place to meet strangers.

The notion is erased from Madelyn’s mind by the sight of a stunning man on the sidewalk. Standing by the newspaper vending box, he checks his watch. His dark features are set off by his black shirt, black sport coat and black slacks. He’s so perfect, he looks out of context with his surroundings. When he looks at her, shock waves rumble through her nervous system like an oncoming storm. A rush of heat engulfs her.

“Madelyn? Hey, what’s wrong with you.” Gwen’s voice is distant, as if it comes through a tunnel.

She snaps her attention back to her friend. “Nothing.” In truth, Madelyn knew her universe had just shifted.


Cate Masters writes fantasy/paranormal, historical, contemporary and speculative fiction, described by reviewers as “so compelling, I did not want to put it down,” “such romantic tales that really touch your soul,” “filled with action scenes which made it a riveting story,” and “the author weaves a great tale with a creative way of using words that makes the story refreshing to read.” The proud mom of three adult children, she currently lives in central Pennsylvania with her husband, Lily the dog, their dictator-like cat, Chairman Maiow, and dozens of characters inhabiting her imagination. Visit Cate online at www.catemasters.com, http://catemasters.blogspot.com or follow her on Facebook or Twitter.