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Monday, September 29, 2014

Paranormal Road Trip: Destination Jacksonville with Rinda Elliott


Come on boys and ghouls!  It's time to hop on Route 666 for a spooktacular Paranormal Road Trip.  This week's stop is Jacksonville and our special guide is Rinda Elliott author of the Sisters of Fate series and the Beri O'Dell series.

The Beri O'Dell series is set in Jacksonville, Florida so it seems fitting that our guide for this week's Paranormal Road Trip be the amazing Rinda Elliott.  Let's see what terrifying places Rinda has planned for our tour.

Jacksonville's Top Five Spooky Places

Jacksonville is the main setting of my Beri O’Dell books, though she travels a lot in each story. This is where Nikolos set his home over a labyrinth of mysterious underground caves and where Beri and her new family end up between and even during adventures. There are way more than five haunted places, but here are a few of the most interesting ones.

1. St. Luke’s Hospital.
Ghostly patients and nurses have been seen wandering the halls. This building has quite a history. For more information, along with some great inside photos, check it out here.

2. Thomson Tabby House Ruins.
Picture and info here. I’d love to set a story here!

3. Annie Lytle School.  
This one intrigued me so much, I’ve decided to set a scene here in a future Beri O’Dell book. There are stories about a killer janitor, a cannibal principle-EW!-and even an explosion that killed many. There’s some cool video footage of the abandoned school here.

4. Theatre Jacksonville.
This one was on a paranormal investigation show. Here’s a fun video of them catching an apparition on film.

5. The Vanishing Hitchhiker of Girvin Road.
A girl with glasses will stop your car, then disappear if you look away. More info here.

Thank you Rinda for joining us here today at From the Shadows!

To learn more about Rinda Elliott and her books, please visit her website and don't miss our Q+A with Rinda Elliott here at From the Shadows!  You can add her Beri O'Dell series here on Goodreads.




Readers, was this your first visit to Jacksonville, Florida?  Have you experienced anything supernatural in and around Jacksonville?

What did you think of Rinda Elliott's picks for spooky places?

Last week on Paranormal Road Trip we visited San Diego with Eileen Wilks.  Next week we'll be traveling back to San Diego with S.J. Harper.

Join us for another spine-tingling Paranormal Road Trip...
if you dare!

Thursday, September 25, 2014

Hunting in Bruges News Article

I was featured this week in the Belgian newspaper Het Nieuwsblad, discussing my upcoming release HUNTING IN BRUGES.



If you are curious, you can read some of the original article Horrorschrijvers in de ban van Brugge online.  You can view a photo of the newspaper article here. 

Hunting in Bruges is the first novel in the Hunters' Guild urban fantasy series by E.J. Stevens.

Wednesday, September 24, 2014

Q+A with Relina Skye (In-Between Work and Play)


Please welcome today's paranormal guest author Relina Skye!  Relina is the author of IN-BETWEEN WORK AND PLAY.

Q+A with Relina Skye

EJ:  When did you begin writing?

Relina:
  Becoming a writer has been a long journey for me.  I've always had a creative imagination, but putting my thoughts on paper was a challenge.  History was always my best subject in school, so making sure that my grammar was up to par was secondary at best.  Officially, I started to write fan fiction in 2004, but I stopped when I entered the workforce.  My first attempt at writing a novel wasn't until 2012.   

EJ:  What brought you to the paranormal genre?

Relina:
  The unknown has always sparked a sense of wonder in my imagination.  Coming up with theories and building upon them tended to be fun topics to talk about with my family.  I enjoy the paranormal genre became you can do so much with it while making it believable to your audience.

EJ:  If you could be any paranormal or have any one supernatural talent, what would it be? Why?

Relina: 
If I had to pick a paranormal it would be an Ancient as described in Stargate.  They have a range of abilities that would make life a whole lot more interesting.  As far as a supernatural talent goes, this is a tough one because I'm split between being able to have super healing powers, being able to teleport or having telekinetic abilities.  I think having Wolverine like healing powers would help me to get over a lot of my fears.  At the same time I would want to be able to heal others, specifically my family members, because I hate to see them in pain and want them to stay with me as long as possible. The ability to teleport would be awesome because you can go anywhere whenever you want to; you just have to make sure you don't teleport into anyone or anything.  Lastly, having telekinetic abilities haunt my dreams.  I often find myself being able to move objects with my mind, but at the same time it doesn’t come easy.  So, it feels real and it is totally believable up until the point when I wake up.

EJ:  Tell us why readers will enjoy your new release.

Relina: 
“In-Between Work and Play” is enjoyable because it breaks several fairly established ‘chick lit’ molds.  The protagonist, Jocelyn Frost, is a demigoddess therapist who just wants to keep her job and her clients happy.  Even though she witnesses a murder, she doesn't throw herself into trying to solve it.  No, despite the threat of danger to her person, she attempts to focus on her primary goal.  Jocelyn’s character is both flawed and believable.  Throw in a good amount of romance, and you get a fairly well rounded novel.

EJ:  If your book(s) were being made into a movie, who would you cast for the leading roles? Why?

Relina:
  This is a tough one to answer.  There are so many great actresses in Hollywood, and even more that we don't know about.  I think I would like an unknown actress to play the role of Jocelyn Frost, mainly because every actress that pops into my mind I already associate with a particular role.  For example, Jaimie Alexander, plays the Norse goddess Sif in Thor; Lucy Griffiths, plays a vampire in True Blood; Kate Mara, will be playing Sue Storm in the Fantastic Four; and Erica Durance plays the Egyptian goddess Isis and Lois Lane in Smallville.

As for the role of Declan Rivers, the main actor that comes to my mind is David Giuntoli from Grimm.  Why?  Because when I was creating Dex’s character, I was picturing him already playing the part.  Granted I have a huge crush on him, hence why he was my muse.  But if there is an unknown male actor who fits the part, I would be good with him doing it.  Or if Henry Cavill wanted the part then I'm cool with that too.


In-Between Work and Play (Jocelyn Frost #1) by Relina Skye.

Jocelyn Frost, Therapist to demigoddesses, is about to lose her job. In an effort to keep her job Jocelyn takes on the task of trying to find the one thing all of the highly fertile demigoddess want most, a contraceptive method that actually works.

But that is only one of her troubles. The people in her life are getting hurt and for no reason that Jocelyn can discern, she is at the center of it all.

With only a couple of days to find a solution,she will need to battle more than just the dark forces that are trying to sabotage her efforts. Jocelyn will have to come to terms with her own self doubt and rely on new friends to help keep her safe.

Release Date:  August 21, 2014
Genre:  Paranormal Romance
Add to Goodreads.

Thank you Relina for joining us here today at From the Shadows!

To learn more about Relina Skye's books, please visit her website.

Tuesday, September 23, 2014

Cover Reveal: Hunting in Bruges by E.J. Stevens

It's time for a cover reveal!  Feast your eyes on the cover for HUNTING IN BRUGES, the debut novel in the Hunters' Guild urban fantasy series by E.J. Stevens.

Keep reading for a chance to win a $25 Amazon Gift Card!


Hunting in Bruges (Hunters' Guild #1) by E.J. Stevens.

The only thing worse than being a Hunter in the fae-ridden city of Harborsmouth, is hunting vamps in Bruges.

Being shipped off to Belgium sucks. The medieval city of Bruges is quaint, but the local Hunters' Guild is understaffed, the canals are choked with dead bodies, and there's no shortage of supernatural predators as likely suspects.

On second thought, maybe Bruges isn't so bad after all.

With a desire to prove herself, protect the innocent, and advance within the ranks of the Hunters' Guild, Jenna Lehane hits the cobbled streets of Bruges with blades at the ready. Someone, or something, is murdering tourists and dumping their bodies in the city's scenic canals.  With the help of a mysterious stranger, Jenna begins to piece together clues that are dotted throughout the city like blood spatter.

Determined to stop the killings, Jenna delves into a bloody local history that only raises more questions--but some secrets are best left buried. Jenna must put her combat training to the test as she struggles to unearth the truth about an ancient enemy.

Hunting in Bruges is the first novel in the Hunters' Guild urban fantasy series set in the world of Ivy Granger.

Release Date:  November 11, 2014
Genre:  Paranormal, Urban Fantasy
Pre-order on Amazon.
Add to Goodreads.

About the Hunters' Guild Series

The Hunters' Guild series is an urban fantasy series written by E.J. Stevens and set in the world of Ivy Granger.  The series is told in the first-person point-of-view of Jenna Lehane, a Hunter with a troubled past, a proficiency with weapons, and an intolerance for monsters who target the innocent.

About the Author

E.J. Stevens is the author of the Spirit Guide young adult series, the bestselling Ivy Granger urban fantasy series, and the Hunters' Guild urban fantasy series.  When E.J. isn't at her writing desk she enjoys dancing along seaside cliffs, singing in graveyards, and sleeping in faerie circles.  E.J. currently resides in a magical forest on the coast of Maine where she finds daily inspiration for her writing.

Hunting in Bruges Cover Reveal Giveaway

The author is giving away a $25 Amazon Gift Card to one lucky winner!

To enter, use the Rafflecopter form below.  This giveaway is INTERNATIONAL.  Giveaway ends October 7, 2014.

a Rafflecopter giveaway
What do you think of the cover?

Monday, September 22, 2014

Paranormal Road Trip: Destination San Diego with Eileen Wilks


Come on boys and ghouls!  It's time to hop on Route 666 for a spooktacular Paranormal Road Trip.  This week's stop is San Diego and our special guide is Eileen Wilks author of the World of the Lupi series.

The World of the Lupi series is set in San Diego, California, so it seems fitting that our guide for this week's Paranormal Road Trip be the amazing Eileen Wilks.  Let's see what terrifying places Eileen has planned for our tour.

San Diego's Top Five Spooky Places

William Heath Davis House
At the oldest house in San Diego, ghosts started playing with the lighting before it was wired for electricity.  Residents reported  lights going on or off mysteriously—and these were gas or coal oil lamps.  Officials of the Gaslamp Historical District talk about lights coming on at the old house—when no one is there.  And a Victorian woman has been seen at or near the top of the stairs.

El Campo Santo Cemetery
What's a list of spooky spots without a graveyard?  Cars parked along the street adjacent to this cemetery are actually resting atop graves that were paved over—and apparently indignant ghosts set off their car alarms from time to time.  Vistors who walk the grounds speak of cold spots, and some report seeing pale, glowing specters—of a Victorian woman, an Indian or Hispanic man, and less identifiable figures.

Hotel Del Coronado
One of the oldest buildings in San Diego is said to be one of the most haunted.  The Hotel Del Coronado's most famous resident ghost is Kate Morgan, who checked into her room in 1892.  But Kate's new husband never joined her, and after five days her body was found on an exterior staircase.  She'd been shot in the head.  At the time, it was ruled a suicide . . . though some had their doubts.
Kate is a lively ghost, appearing to many and occasionally indulging in pranks. The hotel gift shop seems to suffer from poltergeists—or an excess of Kate's antics.  Glassware flies of the shelves and pictures fall from the walls.

Presidio Park
There have been reports of paranormal activity here since the 1760s, when Presidio Fort occupied the land. People speak of mysterious chanting at the cross monument and a dark presence at the witches' tower.  Cloaked and hooded shadows are supposed to circle the museum at the park.  On the lighter side, some insist they've see the ghost of Lucy, a deer who lived in the park in the 70s.

Whaley House
This may be the most haunted place in San Diego.  The Travel Channel's America Most Haunted thinks so.  In fact, they called it the most haunted house in America because reports of hauntings here are so numerous.  Perhaps visitors see the ghosts of the men who were hung on this spot before the house was built.  Perhaps it's the ghost of Violet Whaley, who killed herself at Whaley House in 1885, who lingers.  No one knows—but the reports continue to come in.

Whaley House is now a museum, and a popular one at that, with over 100,000 visitors annually.  It's also a key location in my October release, UNBINDING . . . and in my world, bad things continue to take place in this unhappy spot.

Thank you Eileen for giving us such a haunting tour of San Diego!

To learn more about Eileen Wilks and her books, please visit her website. You can add her World of the Lupi series here on Goodreads.




Readers, was this your first visit to San Diego?  Have you experienced anything supernatural in and around San Diego?

What did you think of Eileen's picks for spooky places?

Last week on Paranormal Road Trip we visited Manhattan with Melissa de la Cruz.  Next week we'll be traveling to Jacksonville, Florida with Rinda Elliott.

Join us for another spine-tingling Paranormal Road Trip...
if you dare!

Readers: What do you think of this new weekly feature?  Your feedback is important to us as we strive to bring you fresh new content that you want to read. 

Sunday, September 21, 2014

Club Nexus Audiobook Giveaway Winners

Congratulations to Justin S., Elaing8, Denise Z., bn10, Natalie C., and Courtney W. the winners of our Club Nexus Audiobook Giveaway!  All six winners will receive audiobook downloads of CLUB NEXUS, featuring Iced, Dusted, Demonized, and Jinx, intertwining stories set in Club Nexus, the hidden haunt of Harborsmouth's paranormal underworld.


Thank you to all who entered!

**Giveaway winners selected randomly using Rafflecopter**

Thursday, September 18, 2014

Q+A with Cheree Alsop + Werewolf Academy Giveaway

Please welcome today's paranormal guest author Cheree Alsop!  Cheree is the author of the The Silver series, The Shadow series, the Small Town Superhero series, and the Werewolf Academy series.


Keep reading for a chance to win Werewolf Academy ebooks!

Q+A with Cheree Alsop

EJ:  When did you begin writing?

Cheree:
  I began writing when I was about twelve. I used to read everything I could get my hands on. I started out reading every book written by Louis Llamor because I loved anything western. The very first book I ever wrote was a western called One Man Alone (yes, it is a redundant title). It was a sad book- a tragedy. After that, I got caught up with fantasy and never looked back!

EJ:  What brought you to the paranormal genre?

Cheree:
  I've always loved the paranormal. I've been intrigued with werewolves, vampires, and the supernatural since I was young. I loved the idea that there are checks and balances with the paranormal world as well as our own, and when they intersect, there can be a huge variety of complications and intriguing situations!

EJ:  If you could be any paranormal or have any one supernatural talent, what would it be? Why?

Cheree: 
I would have to go with a shapeshifter. I write a lot of werewolf books, so the idea of being able to turn into a wolf is a wonderful one. I would also love the ability to turn into a bird of some sort because flying that way just sounds so wonderful!

EJ:  Tell us why readers will enjoy your new release.

Cheree: 
Werewolf Academy is a new series about young werewolves who have been rescued from the mass werewolf genocide and they are taken into hiding at the Academy. The book follows twins Alex and Cassie as they learn what it means to be a werewolf in a hostile world. They have their normal classes and also classes designed to help them perfect their werewolf instincts and strengths so they can defend themselves and their packs. Reviewers have said that this series is a mixture of Harry Potter meets Teen Wolf. It has action, adventure, peril, heartache, and a bit of romance mixed in. I think any reader will enjoy it!

EJ:  If your book(s) were being made into a movie, who would you cast for the leading roles?

Cheree:
  I think any author's dream is to see their books on the big screen. I had a fan make a trailer for my Silver Series and seeing the characters I had created come to life like that was breathtaking. Here's the link to that trailer for anyone who would like to see it.

I think I'm stalling with the answer to the question. I feel like every reader sees characters differently in their own minds, and I don't want to pigeon hole them for my readers. I would just be thrilled to watch the movies!!


Strays (Werewolf Academy #1) by Cheree Alsop

Werewolves are struggling to survive. Jaze and those who remain of his pack build an Academy to protect the children who endured the genocide. Alex and Cassie arrive as orphans after losing everyone they love. The twins find themselves in a new world where they have to survive the politics and dangers of being a werewolf in a world that wants them destroyed.

But outside forces have found them. Can Alex protect his sister and survive the attacks of a man who wants them dead and will stop at nothing to see it happen?

Release Date:  August 13, 2014
Genre:  Paranormal, Young Adult
Add to Goodreads.

Thank you Cheree for joining us here today at From the Shadows!

To learn more about author Cheree Alsop and her books, please visit her website.

Werewolf Academy Giveaway

We are giving away ebook copies of STRAYS and HUNTED, the first two novels in the Werewolf Academy series by Cheree Alsop, to 3 lucky winners.

To enter, please leave a comment on this post and include your email address so we may contact you if you win.  This giveaway is INTERNATIONAL, to anyone who can download from Smashwords.com.  Giveaway ends October 2, 2014 midnight EST.

Good luck!

Monday, September 15, 2014

Paranormal Road Trip: Destination Manhattan with Melissa De La Cruz


Come on boys and ghouls!  It's time to hop on Route 666 for a spooktacular Paranormal Road Trip.  This week's stop is Manhattan and our special guide is Melissa de la Cruz author of The Beauchamp Family (Witches of East End) series, the Blue Bloods series, and the Vampires of Manhattan series.

The Vampires of Manhattan series is set in Manhattan, one of the five boroughs of New York City, so it seems fitting that our guide for this week's Paranormal Road Trip be the amazing Melissa de la Cruz.  Let's see what terrifying places Melissa has planned for our tour.

Manhattan's Top Five Spooky Places

Manhattan is a city full of history and haunted places. A few of my favorite places to ghost-bust, below.

Hotel Chelsea
222 West 23rd St. 

The famous hotel in Chelsea was the site of many deaths. Poet Dylan Thomas, who wrote of the “dying of the light” and died there is said to haunt near room 206. Doomed punk couple Sid Vicious and Nancy Spungen are said to haunt the lower floors. Sid killed Nancy in a drunken, drugged out fight, and he died of a heroin overdose before he could stand trial.

White Horse Tavern
567 Hudson St.
One of my favorite bars downtown, and related to the Chelsea Hotel. Dylan Thomas reportedly drank 18 whiskey shots here before collapsing and being brought back to his room at the Chelsea. It’s said he haunts his usual table at the tavern from time to time.

One If by Land, Two If by Sea

17 Barrow St.


One of the most romantic restaurants in Manhattan, it is also the former home of Alexander Hamilton and his daughter Theodosia, who have supposedly never left. Diners are said to have experienced being shoved by them, lights flicker, and women’s earrings disappear. Staffers insist the ghosts are friendly, but maybe a little cheeky?

Edgar Allen Poe’s Abode
85 West 3rd Street

“Nevermore” author Edgar Allen Poe lived here for eight months in 1845 and 1846, and wrote “The Raven” here. The house has been demolished for NYU dorms but students say they’ve seen the haunted and haunting writer climbing the banister, the only remaining part of the original house.

Mark Twain House
14 W 10th St between Fifth and Sixth Aves

The practical and down to earth writer born Samuel Clemens lived in Greenwich Village from 1900-1901 and reportedly haunts this domain. He was skeptical of ghosts, so it’s hard to believe he became one upon his death.

Thank you Melissa for giving us such a haunting tour of Manhattan!

Want more Melissa de la Cruz in Manhattan?

Check out these two YouTube videos of Melissa de la Cruz giving an author tour of Manhattan's Uptown and Downtown.  These videos also bring Blue Bloods fans up-to-date as she launches her new series Vampires of Manhattan.

To learn more about Melissa de la Cruz and her books, please visit her website. Also, don't miss my reviews of Blue Bloods, Masquerade, Revelations, and The Van Alen Legacy here at From the Shadows. You can add her Vampires of Manhattan series here on Goodreads.




Readers, was this your first visit to Manhattan?  Have you experienced anything supernatural in and around Manhattan?

What did you think of Melissa's picks for spooky places?

Last week on Paranormal Road Trip we visited New Orleans, Louisiana with Suzanne Johnson.  Next week we'll be traveling to San Diego with Eileen Wilks.

Join us for another spine-tingling Paranormal Road Trip...
if you dare!

Readers: What do you think of this new weekly feature?  Your feedback is important to us as we strive to bring you fresh new content that you want to read. 

Sunday, September 14, 2014

Q+A with Brian Bandell (Mute)


Please welcome today's paranormal guest author Brian Bandell!  Brian is the author of MUTE.

Q+A with Brian Bandell

EJ:  When did you begin writing?

Brian:
  I filled my notebook in sixth grade with a sword and sorcery story. My first serious attempt to write a novel started my junior year at the University of Miami as I sat on the shores of Lake Osceola listening to Radiohead on my headphones. My first book deal came four novels later but the joy of creating a story that I could escape with kept me writing for years and persisting in the face of rejections until I found my touch. I still listen to music during most of my writing.

EJ:  What brought you to the paranormal genre?

Brian: 
My novel Mute is a blend between murder mystery, science fiction and paranormal. I love incorporating the unworldly into my stories and, in this case, I do it through an environment that people have been abusing that fights back. Sea turtles, dolphins, gators, manatees, all of them become deadly for those who approach the Indian River Lagoon.

I enjoy reading books by Stephen King and Dean Koontz, two authors who also incorporate scifi and paranormal. The key question in all such stories is how the characters react to situations that seem unbelievable and force them to make difficult choices. In my novel Mute, Officer Moni Williams must choose between protecting a mute girl who saw her parents murdered and getting the child to reveal information that could help them catch the unconventional killer.

EJ:  If you could be any paranormal or have any one supernatural talent, what would it be? Why?

Brian:
  To jump inside someone's head and know what they're feeling. Not just their thoughts, but their emotions and their body. We see so much joy, pain, amazing athletics displays, those who are feeble and fragile - what does that feel like?

EJ:  Tell us why readers will enjoy your new release.

Brian: 
It keeps them guessing until the end as I rip through the story at a fast pace. One of my favorite things is hearing all the different reactions from readers. Some cried at the plight of the speechless girl. Some were terrified of going near the water. Nearly everyone was shocked by the ending.

I don't want to stick to a safe formula. This novel is a thrill ride.

EJ:  If your book(s) were being made into a movie, who would you cast for the leading roles? Why?

Brian:
  Jasika Nicole (who played Astrid on Fringe) would be the lead as Moni. She has the right mix of sensitivity and toughness as a cop. I can see her being conflicted over how to care for the girl.

The girl Mariella would be played by Brighton Sharbino (Lizzie from Walking Dead). She did an amazing job as a stone-cold, psychotic kid. The part of Mariella has sympathy on the outside, with an undercurrent of fear and mystery.


Mute by Brian Bandell.

Officer Monique “Moni” Williams, has never lived an easy life—with an abusive ex-con father, a two-timing, pistol-wielding ex-boyfriend and a racist boss—it’s hard to see how things could possibly get more difficult for her. After she meets a child that she bonds with, but Moni must protect the girl from a mysterious threat stalking everyone near the Indian River Lagoon.

A serial killer is on the loose on Florida’s Space Coast, and Moni has been put in charge of the key witness in the biggest case of her life: an eight-year-old girl called Mariella. The child has gone mute after losing both her parents one harrowing night. Now, Moni struggles to protect the child and break her silence, while more reports of inexplicable deaths and animals with eerie purple eyes pile up. Her bond with the child is tested by a police force demanding answers. What does the lagoon’s rotten stench have to do with a mute little girl? Can Moni save Mariella from what lurks along the water? Who is really facing the most danger? Find out in this suspenseful, page-turner that will keep you guessing until the very end.

Genre: Paranormal, Science Fiction, Mystery
Add to Goodreads.

Thank you Brian for joining us here today at From the Shadows!

To learn more about Brian Bandell and his books, please visit his website.

Wednesday, September 10, 2014

Q+A with Shawn McGuire + Break My Bones Giveaway

Please welcome today's guest author, Shawn McGuire!  Shawn is the author of BREAK MY BONES.


Keep reading for a chance to win a handmade bracelet and Break My Bones swag!

Q+A with Shawn McGuire

EJ:  When did you begin writing?

Shawn: 
I first started writing when I was 11 or 12. My cousin and I started writing our own Star Wars episodes and gave ourselves starring roles. I don’t remember what my name was, but she was Smudgie Holo! Sadly, I no longer have those notebooks. It would be so much fun to read those stories now.

EJ:  What brought you to the paranormal genre?

Shawn:
  Things happen that can’t be explained and I love the thought that there are other forces at work in the world. Also, my books deal with some heavier topics (death of a family member, divorce, dating abuse, substance abuse, rape) and adding some fantastical elements makes it a little easier to deal with, I think, without minimizing the seriousness.

EJ:  If you could be any paranormal or have any one supernatural talent, what would it be? Why?

Shawn:
  Invisibility! Mostly because I’m kind of snoopy. I’d love to be able to get into places I shouldn’t go and listen to conversations I shouldn’t listen to. Also I could move stuff around and people wouldn’t know what was going on!

EJ:  Tell us why readers will enjoy your new release.

Shawn: 
The basic premise of the books in my series is that someone makes a wish, the wish is granted, and then things don’t go so well. If you’ve read the first in the series, STICKS AND STONES, you’ll want to know who gets the next wish and what kind of trouble the genie (known as a Wish Mistress in the books) is up to.

Crissy is the main character in BREAK MY BONES. Crissy simply wishes for a brighter future. Her mom is a drunk, her older sister is following in their mom’s footsteps, and Crissy’s boyfriend is abusing her.

This book deals with some heavy topics, but it’s a story about finding your own strength and the importance of friends and family. And Desiree, the Wish Mistress, is a lot of fun. She’s a hippie and…well, you’ll have to read to find out more.

EJ:  If your book(s) were being made into a movie, who would you cast for the leading roles? Why?

Shawn:
  Crissy – Ashley Benson. I found a picture of her when I was writing BREAK MY BONES where her hair is messed up and she looks small and fragile. Although Crissy has street smarts and isn’t afraid to speak her mind with her friends, she is small and physically fragile.

Desiree – Mary Kate Olson. She’s got that pouty look so often – and Desiree is quite moody – but when she smiles her face just lights up and you want to be her best friend. And she’s tiny. Desiree is tiny.

Mandy – Selena Gomez. She has that fresh, girl-next-door but still in-charge look about her that is totally Mandy to me.

Kaf – I have a picture on my Pinterest page of him. I have no idea who this man is but he is 100% my Kaf.


Break My Bones (Wish Makers #2) by Shawn McGuire.

Everyone makes mistakes. Crissy’s just might kill her.

Seventeen-year-old Crissy Sheets was so sure Brad was the one, she believed him when he swore the first bruise was an accident. She believed him when he told her he loved her after the second. Now trapped in an abusive relationship with no idea of how to get out, she’s all but given up on ever having the life she dreams of. With little to lose, Crissy wishes for a better future.

She’s told her wish has been granted, but nothing has changed. Her house is still a dump, her mother is still drinking, and Brad still wants to control her every move. Then Lance moves into the house across the yard. He’s hot, chivalrous, and wants to help Crissy break free. Will standing up for herself push Brad too far?

Release Date:  September 1, 2014
Genre: Fantasy, Young Adult
Add to Goodreads.

Thank you Shawn for joining us here today at From the Shadows!

To learn more about Shawn McGuire and her books, please visit her website.

Break My Bones Giveaway

The author is giving away a handmade bracelet and fab Break My Bones swag!

To enter, use the Rafflecopter form below.  This giveaway is INTERNATIONAL.  This is a tour giveaway, so the winners will be randomly selected by the author or publisher.  Giveaway ends September 15, 2014.

a Rafflecopter giveaway
Good luck!

Monday, September 8, 2014

Paranormal Road Trip: Destination New Orleans with Suzanne Johnson


Come on boys and ghouls!  It's time to hop on Route 666 for a spooktacular Paranormal Road Trip.  This week's stop is New Orleans and our special guide is Suzanne Johnson author of the Sentinels of New Orleans series.

The Sentinels of New Orleans series is set in New Orleans, Louisiana so it seems fitting that our guide for this week's Paranormal Road Trip be the amazing Suzanne Johnson.  Let's see what terrifying places Suzanne has planned for our tour.

New Orleans' Top Five Spooky Places

There are plenty of reasons why my hometown of New Orleans is considered the most haunted city in America, and one of the most haunted in the world. I mean, you have the whole voodoo thing, an old city by U.S. standards with a very non-American vibe, an extremely violent history, rumors of vampires flying out the attic of a convent (really!), and—oh yeah—we bury our dead aboveground so occasional heavy floods send coffins and skeletons floating down the street.

Man, I love this place.

The ghost of pirate Jean Lafitte is said to hover around the Lafitte Blacksmith Shop Bar and the Old Absinthe House, and half the rooms in the Hotel Monteleone are said to be haunted. But if you really want to send the chill bumps racing up your spine and raising the hair on the back of your neck, check out these five spots, in no particular order.

St. Louis Cemetery Nos. 1 and 2.  These are the oldest of New Orleans’ famous “Cities of the Dead,” with tombs dating back to the 1700s. No. 1, the most well known, opened in 1789, a good 15 years before our pirate Lafitte wandered the streets of the city. Probably the most famous grave in No. 1 is that of voodoo priestess Marie Laveau, although you can also find Barthelemy Lafon, an architect who joined Lafitte’s pirate legions. In No. 2, cozy up to the crypt of Dominique You, Lafitte’s closest ally and alleged half-brother. (Alas, the whereabouts of Captain Lafitte himself are not known. Well, except in my books, where he lives on forever, the handsome scoundrel.) Even if graveyards in general don’t creep you out, I defy you to wander around the maze of St. Louis No. 1 or 2 with its rows of aboveground tombs and not feel a chill breeze or two. Not to mention that crow that hangs around Marie Laveau’s grave.

The Hotel Monteleone.  More than a dozen different spirits are said to hang out at the hotel (not including the ones in my books), and history oozes from the walls of the marble lobby with its antiques and revolving Carousel Bar, where local literati such as William Faulkner were said to imbibe. The thirteenth floor—renumbered fourteenth—is said to be the most haunted, and includes the ghost of a young boy believed to be a child who died nearby in the late 19th century.

The Bourbon Orleans.  Another hotel, this one haunted by the ghosts of the orphaned children the site once housed, as well as the nuns who ran the orphanage. There’s also believed to be a pirate ghost hanging out in the stairwells, and TVs have been known to turn themselves on and off.

The Napoleon House.  A great spot to people watch, original patrons of this 18th-century building constructed as a home-in-exile for Napoleon Bonaparte (he never made it) are said to sit in the upper-floor windows and watch the current, living, denizens of the place. There’s no better spot on a sultry, stormy night.

Six Flags New Orleans. Okay, okay, it’s probably not haunted, but it might as well be. In 2005, almost exactly nine years ago, Hurricane Katrina sent the waters of Lake Pontchartrain and the Mississippi River Gulf Outlet over and through the levees, putting 80 percent of the New Orleans metro area underwater. Including Six Flags. The park never reopened and, caught in terminal litigation, it still sits there, its rusted swings moving in the breeze, weeds and vines winding through the silent roller coaster and other rides. It is by far and away THE creepiest spot in New Orleans. Maybe anywhere…which is why I had to use it as a setting of a novel, of course!


Thank you Suzanne for giving us such a haunting tour of New Orleans!  To learn more about Suzanne Johnson and her books, please visit her website and don't miss our Q+A with Suzanne Johnson here at From the Shadows.  Also, don't miss my review of Elysian Fields, the newest book in the Sentinels of New Orleans series, and our character interview with Drusilla "D.J." Jaco.  You can add her Sentinels of New Orleans series here on Goodreads.




Readers, was this your first visit to New Orleans?  Have you experienced anything supernatural in and around New Orleans?

What did you think of Suzanne Johnson's picks for spooky places?

Last week on Paranormal Road Trip we visited Savanna, Georgia with J.D. Horn.  Next week we'll be traveling to Manhattan with Melissa De La Cruz.

Join us for another spine-tingling Paranormal Road Trip...
if you dare!

Readers: What do you think of this new weekly feature?  Your feedback is important to us as we strive to bring you fresh new content that you want to read. 

Sunday, September 7, 2014

E.J.'s Birthday Bash Giveaway Winner

Congratulations to Leah H. the winner of E.J.'s Birthday Bash Giveaway here at From the Shadows!  Leah will receive a Spirit Guide and Ivy Granger series swag pack, including postcards, trading cards, bookmarks, and stickers!


Thank you to all who entered!

**Winner selected randomly using Random.org**

Thursday, September 4, 2014

Club Nexus Audiobook Giveaway

To celebrate the recent audiobook release of CLUB NEXUS, we are having a giveaway! 


Club Nexus (Ivy Granger #2.5) by E.J Stevens.

A demon, an Unseelie faerie, and a vampire walk into a bar...

This Ivy Granger audiobook special contains short stories set in Club Nexus, the hidden haunt of Harborsmouth's paranormal underworld.

ICED

A bargain gone wrong leads a highborn Unseelie faerie to life as an enslaved bartender with a taste for revenge.

DUSTED

Being a highly skilled predator doesn't necessarily put you at the top of the food chain at Club Nexus. A southern vampire with a hankering for blood and wanton violence may have bit off more than he can chew.

DEMONIZED

The demon attorney we love to hate has his eye on a certain rockabilly human. Too bad she's brought a crossbow loaded with holy water dipped bolts for this night on the town.

JINXED

Just when Jinx needs a carefree girl's night out with Ivy, a smoking hot demon tries to buy her a drink. She really is the unluckiest human on the planet.

Note:  Already own Club Nexus on Kindle?  The Club Nexus audiobook is Whispersync for Voice ready.

Genre: Paranormal, Urban Fantasy
Add Club Nexus to Goodreads.

About the Ivy Granger series:   The Ivy Granger series is an urban fantasy series written by E.J. Stevens. The series is told in the first-person point-of-view of Ivy Granger, a psychic detective with ties to the paranormal underworld of Harborsmouth--ties that ensnare Ivy and her friend Jinx in the Machiavellian schemes of the city's teeming population of bloodsucking vampires and psychotic faeries.

Club Nexus Audiobook Giveaway

We are giving away SIX audiobook downloads of Club Nexus, written by E.J. Stevens and narrated by Traci Odom.

To enter, please use the Rafflecopter form below.  This giveaway is open INTERNATIONAL to anyone who can use download codes from Audible.com.  Giveaway ends September 20, 2014.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Good luck!

Monday, September 1, 2014

Paranormal Road Trip: Destination Savannah with J.D. Horn


Come on boys and ghouls!  It's time to hop on Route 666 for a spooktacular Paranormal Road Trip.  This week's stop is Savannah, Georgia and our special guide is J.D. Horn author of the Witching Savannah series.

The Witching Savannah series is set in Savannah, Georgia so it seems fitting that our guide for this week's Paranormal Road Trip be the amazing J.D. Horn.  Let's see what terrifying places J.D. has planned for our tour.

Savannah's Top Five Spooky Places

5. East Oglethorpe Avenue between Abercorn and Habersham - Yes, Colonial Park Cemetery is just on the south side of the street, but the street itself is built over unmarked graves. It's one thing to be in a cemetery and know it. When you are in a cemetery and don't know it, that's an entirely different matter. (Oh, and don't even get me started on the playground located on the other side of the cemetery.)

4. Twelve West Oglethorpe - You hear on all the ghost hunter shows about spirits draining away energy from batteries. I'm not saying the place is haunted, but I aimed my freshly charged camera through a  hole--already existing, I swear I didn't make it--in a window to take a shot. (This was going to be the first picture of the day.)  I'm not saying the place is haunted, but my camera's battery died as soon as I snapped the shutter. No photo was taken.

3. The old gunpowder magazine - Hidden by trees off Ogeechee Road (a bit between an auto parts store and a drive-in restaurant), I was alone there, but I didn't feel alone. It was creepy enough for me to use it in the first chapter of THE SOURCE.

2. Old Candler Hospital  - I thought I had hit setting gold when I came across Old Candler. Reputedly haunted, steeped in dramatic history, and creepy as all get out. I used the the yellow fever tunnels that run underneath its parking lot to beneath Forsyth Park in THE LINE, and had intended to set the Tillandsia Club meetings from THE SOURCE there. Then after sitting deserted for years, a law school purchased the property. Had to wrap up that storyline right quick.  I look forward to seeing if the students report any paranormal encounters, or if the former hospital's reputation for being haunted will fade.

1. "Jilo's Crossroads" (Normandy Street) - There's a reason why I set Jilo's crossroads in the wooded area surrounding Normandy Street (west of the golf club and east of Randolph Street). Not only have I come across accounts of homeless encampments in the general vicinity, the whole area just has a weird vibe to it. I don't know if the land is privately or publicly owned, but either way, I recommend staying clear of it.

Thank you J.D. for giving us such a haunting tour of Savannah!

To learn more about J.D. Horn and his books, please visit his website and don't miss our Q+A with J.D. Horn here at From the Shadows.  You can add his Witching Savannah series here on Goodreads.



Readers, was this your first visit to Savannah?  Have you experienced anything supernatural in Savannah?

What did you think of J.D. Horn's picks for spooky places?

Next week on Paranormal Road Trip, we'll be traveling to New Orleans with Suzanne Johnson.

Join us for another spine-tingling Paranormal Road Trip...
if you dare!

Readers: What do you think of this new weekly feature?  Your feedback is important to us as we strive to bring you fresh new content that you want to read.