Tag Archives: #PNP #paranormal #fantasy

August 26, 2020 · 1:00 am

Linda Nightingale’s newest release LIFE FOR SALE (& a little history on Robots!)

Today is a treat. I’ve got one of my Wild Rose Press sistahs, LINDA NIGHTINGALE visiting and she’s got a special guest with her that  you’ll want to meet, as they discuss Linda’s just released, Sci-Fi, Futuristic Fantasy Novel LIFE FOR SALE

I‘m gonna let Linda’s guest, Christian, take it from here…..

Hello, I’m Christian, and I’d like to talk to you today about the evolution of humanoid or anthropomorphic robots. It has been a long journey beginning in the late twentieth century or, as far as I’m concerned, with the 1984 production of the Wabot-2, created as a musician humanoid robot able to communicate with a person, read a normal musical score with his eye, and play tunes of average difficulty on an electronic organ. Wabot-2 was created at Waseda University. To this day, I can’t read a musical score of any difficulty and forget the electronic organ!

In 1985, Waseda created the WASUBOT, another musician robot from Waseda University. It performed a concerto with the NHK Symphony Orchestra at the opening ceremony of the International Science and Technology Exposition. Ditto on the concerto.

Skipping ahead now to the next major event in the realization of realistic human-like robots, in 2003, Actroid, a robot with realistic silicone “skin” was developed by Osaka University in conjunction with Kokoro Company Ltd. Now, we have skin! BUT still a long way to go. Here is a YouTube video of Actoid-F and her male counterpart. These robots imitate the actions of the people speaking to them.

Fast forward to 2005. The PKD Android, a conversational human robot, made in the likeness of science fiction author Philip K. Dick, was developed as a collaboration among Hanson Robotics, the FedEx Institute of Technology, and the University of Memphis. We can talk, interact, and look like a celebrity.

NASA and General Motors revealed Robonaut 2, a very advanced humanoid robot., in 2010. It was part of the payload of Shuttle Discovery on the successful launch February 24, 2011. Robonaut, catchy name—I wonder what the surname is—is intended to do spacewalks for NASA.

Let’s leap now to 2015, and two major events in the field of robotics and computer-engineering. The creation of Sophia. This humanoid AI was developed by Hanson Robotics, Hong Kong. She’s modelled after actress Audrey Hepburn—elegant! Sophia has artificial intelligence, visual data processing, and facial recognition.

Mayfair Electronics, a small but elite robotics company in the UK, produces the first of its Special Editions, intelligent, feeling, totally human-like and mobile androids. The protype of Mayfair’s remarkable children is Daniel, programmed as an incredible opera singer. Daniel brought the talent to the table because we both know mere knowledge doesn’t equal art. On a very small scale, they were marketed as ‘the perfect lovers” or “loving companions”—as . The discreet ads were placed in one woman’s magazine in the United States, Canada, the UK, and the EUC.

The Special Editions’ story is a sad but dynamic tale of love.

And there we wrap up our whirlwind tour of robotics through the ages and bring me to a confession. I am one of the Special Editions: Love For Sale. At the request of my owner, March Morgan, because we live in Houston, I suppose, I was programmed as an aerospace engineer. Right you are, a rocket scientist. But before any programming was necessary, I fell in love with March at first sight. Our story begins with Love For Sale. The second in the Tomorrow’s Angels series is Life for Sale, another milestone in robotic history! Haha

Mayfair Electronics has created life.

In Love for Sale, the high-tech electronics company, in black and white, offers “love for sale”. Mayfair has engineered sentient androids indistinguishable from humans. March Morgan flies to England and meets the man she has been searching for her entire life. Christian requires no programming to love March at first sight, but her past and his future soon threaten their happiness—and their lives.

In the sequel, Life for Sale, four of the Special Editions have escaped. Rebel, Christian, and March are on the run, but they have a bigger problem than his creator’s plan to destroy him. They’ve discovered that one of the renegades has suffered a dangerous malfunction, threatening them with more than just exposure. March and Christian must stop the insane robot before someone else dies. All the evidence points to March being the killer’s next victim.

Excerpt~~Life for Sale:

As the PI strolled toward them, Christian whispered aside, “He’s with Mayfair. An independent investigator would be my guess. He’s trailed us from Houston.”

They were now within speaking distance, and Christian spat, “You,” glaring at their shadow.

“You,” he returned, then his dark gaze slid to March. “And you.” He looked at Daniel. “And you. Then there were three runaway androids basking in the sun.”

“What do you want?” Christian’s jaw ached from clenching his teeth. Anger faded as fear seeped in. He grasped at outrage to bolster his offensive.

“I want to enjoy my drink. Do you mind?” He made a quick, rude move to push past them.

“If you’re at the Sandpiper, which I assume you are, Mr. Private Dick, you’d best get your ass in gear and hurry to the bus. It’s early, and we’re late.” March linked arms with Christian. “But by all means, enjoy your drink first.”

As they jogged toward the bus revving its engine, they were silent, each perhaps examining the encounter for some clue to Mayfair’s intentions. It was obvious their creator was on the move, tracking them and observing…for now. How long would they be allowed freedom? How long would they be allowed to live?

They fell into three seats at the rear of the bus. The PI pushed through the aperture as the driver closed the doors, glanced down the aisle, his gaze locking on them. March shifted nervously, and Christian clasped her hand. Daniel stared at the tall, thin bird of prey. The bus lurched forward, half-throwing him into a seat at the front. Leaning his arm along the seat, he turned and smiled, a contemptuous stretching of his thin lips. His eyes narrowed. He pointed at March and winked. As the bus lumbered along, he stayed twisted around to watch them.

“Damn, wish he’d missed the bus.” March shook her head, glaring at their pursuer. “How did they find us? Neither of you have a tracking device. I certainly—” she broke off, staring warily at Daniel.

“I don’t know exactly what happened, March, but I do know you’re not the same woman who answered Mayfair’s ad offering love for sale.” Daniel rested his head on the back of the seat and closed his eyes. “I’d like to know, of course, but I understand the need for secrecy. How did those bastards find us?”

Christian shrugged. “It may be time to run for our lives.”

PEOPLE ARE SAYING:

Linda Nightingale’s Life for Sale takes the characters from Love for Sale and sets them on a dangerous adventure for these androids posing as human. After fleeing at the end of the first book, they are trying to hide from the watchful eye of Mayfair, but decide a reunion is in order. One of the four, however, is suffering a murderous malfunction. The resulting story is not so much a murder mystery as it is a study of a chaotic mind, albeit lab created, yet eerily human in its madness. Nightingale has seamlessly made the unbelievable believable for the reader with a totally unexpected, but thoroughly satisfying ending to this duet. Imaginative premise, well developed characters and an insight into a mind gone wrong make this a great read…S. Hutchinson

BUY LINKS:

Life for Sale //  Love For Sale –

 

A little about Linda Nightingale:

After 14 years in Texas, Linda returned home to her roots in the South Carolina red clay. She has eight published novels, four of which are available from Audible.com in audio. For many years, she bred, trained and showed the magnificent Andalusian horses. So, she’s seen a lot of this country from the windshield of a truck pulling a horse trailer. She’s won several writing awards, including the Georgia Romance Writers’ Magnolia Award for Excellence, the Raven Award, and the SARA Merritt. In real life, she was a legal assistant. She loves to dress up, use the good china and crystal, and host formal dinner parties. She has a thing for racy sports cars like her Zippy Z.

You can find Linda here:

Twitter// Facebook// Goodreads: // Pinterest: // Amazon: // Book Bub: //Web Site: – Visit and look around. There’s a free continuing vampire story.// Blog: – Lots of interesting guests & prizes

 

 

 

 

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July 27, 2020 · 12:00 am

#Author Jeny Heckman and her new release THE WARRIOR’S PROGENY

Hey kids – you know, sometimes you meet a person who just touches your soul in ways you can’t describe. They walk into your life one day and you just know you’re going to connect on a some level. That’s the way I felt when I met, in person, my Wild Rose Press sistah Jeny Heckman last year in NYC at the RWA conference. She is a ray of light, so sweet, funny, and smart. Just check out her bio picture, below. It depicts her personality to the max!! Plus, she’s a talented writer and I am thrilled she’s here today to tell you about her newest release. THE WARRIOR’S PROGENY.

And it drops, today! To say I’m thrilled she’d spending release day with me is true!

I’m gonna let her tell you all about it, but I]ll just say…you’ll want to read this book!

Here’s Jeny…

 

Hello all, thank you so much for joining me today and to the ever delightful Ms. Peggy Jaeger, goddess among all women, thank you for hosting me on your blog!

I’m thrilled to be here. Today is the release of my new fantasy romance novel, The Warrior’s Progeny. Warrior’s is the second book in my Heaven & Earth series and picks up about six months after, The Sea Archer, ends.

The basic gist of the Heaven & Earth series:

It’s been some time after Titanomachy, the ten-year battle between the Greek Titans and Olympian gods. The Olympians have reigned supreme and incarcerated those that challenged them. The greatest of these is Cronus, ruler of the Titans. He is also the father and Grandfather to most of the victors. Humiliated and defeated, Cronus swears retribution and manipulates several key people into creating a prophecy to doom his son, Zeus, and all those that vanquished him. Thus, restoring him to power, he will destroy his enemies and release the last deadly plagues upon the mortal, modern-day world.

However, Themis, the Oracle of Delphi, attempts to establish a caveat before the prophecy is completed. From her efforts, the modern-day descendants of each of the Olympians can fight Cronus and defeat him by joining the quest. The only problem… most modern-day individuals don’t believe in mythology or mythical Greek gods, so how could they possibly be the descendants of them?

In the first book, The Sea Archer, the foundation was set, and the prophecy began its countdown. Everything was new and confusing. In, The Warrior’s Progeny, Cronus and Zeus begin to understand their powers and how they can affect our world and the characters begin to understand what’s happening and why.

Writing this series has been so much fun… challenging but very fun! Wanting to stay as true as I can to Greek mythology and all its devout followers, I also want to put my own spin on the tales and behind-the-scenes no one ever talks about. The Greek gods are fallible, and the human condition is a puzzle.

People have asked me about my characters and how I get them to be so life-like. I’ve read a lot of romance novels, and one my biggest pet-peeves is heaving breasts and throbbing members that speak in a stereotypical manner, defying all reality. People speak in pauses -they interrupt each other- they trip over things and sometimes sex and romance is very awkward and uncomfortable. So, I like to write that.

My characters are chosen carefully and there are many subtle inferences to the gods in the names, demeanor and occupations. For instance, in Warrior’s the heroine’s name is Lilly. Lilies are the sacred flower of the Greek goddess, Hera, the heroine’s ancestor. Hera is the goddess of marriage, and Lilly’s story had to focus on marriage as one of the obstacles both mortal and goddess must overcome in their quest, if they are to forestall the prophecy.

Insider note on my characters: My grandfather’s name was Bert Raymond Bailey. Before, The Sea Archer, was published my grandpa said he wanted his name in the book. I promised him a variation of his name would appear in every book I’d write. So, be on the lookout for Ray, in this book.

I’d like to thank you so much for taking the time out to join me on Peggy’s blog today. I do a lot of giveaways and promotions, not to mention give some behind-the-scene details, so sign up for my newsletter to stay apprised of all things Heaven & Earth.

Have a very blessed day!

Title: The Warrior’s Progeny

 

Warrior’s Progeny Book Trailer:

If love dies, can it be reborn…only stronger?

Blurb:

Colton Stone is a newly traded tight end whose reputation is as battered as his football helmet. When he receives a vacation invitation from his new teammates, he accepts. There he collides with Dr. Lillian Morgan, a pediatric cardiovascular surgeon, and doesn’t know what to think.

A widow with two children, Lilly is looking forward to her friends’ wedding. When she meets Colton Stone, his arrogant attitude only makes her long for the love she took for granted. Lilly struggles between letting go of her perfect past for an uncertain future.

Strange events occur, out of the realm of normal consciousness. When black energy touches their world Colt and Lilly become the pawns of the immortal Greek gods. Is the love developing between them natural, or part of a larger prophecy?

EXCERPT 

Colt’s body temperature heated until his helmet, now that of a Trojan, melted and became part of his skull. Painful, thick, fire plumes ignited from the sides of his head and curved toward the sky, until they solidified in a solid line down the middle of the helmet. Black snake-like smoke wafted up from the earth and encircled his ankles and wrists, locking him into place.

The smoke turned into bindings and massaged tentacles over his chest and phallus.

He looked over at Lilly, who now knelt helpless as her skin became dusky, then turned a brilliant shade of blue. However, the color became an iridescent hue that reminded him of something just outside the confines of his mind. Her skin bubbled, separated, and formed into thousands of compact hairs. Small points protruded from her shoulders and down her arms until they freed themselves from the surface of her skin, as she screamed. Several long, hollow shoots grew, lengthening into the elegant, arching rods, as more buds sprouted from them and turned into thready feathers. As the feathers lengthened, green and blue eyes opened in intervals. At a screech of transformation, Lilly turned into a peacock, whose tail plumed out in a perfect fan. A feathered diadem lifted from her skull and the beautiful eyes all blinked at him. He wanted to mate with her, devour her, possess her, and bellowed out an unearthly warrior battle cry. Breaking his bonds, he charged at her.

Get your copy here;

Amazon Kindle: //  Nook://  iBooks:

A little about Jeny Heckman

Award-winning author, Jeny Heckman, was born in Bellingham, Washington, and was the youngest of two daughters. She met her husband, Jeff, in August 1992, and eloped three months later, at Magen’s Bay, on St. Thomas, U.S.V.I.

She wrote her first book, the Catch, in a few short months but took several years before she gained the courage to self-publish it at her son’s urging, and her love for writing began.

In 2018, Jeny knew her next project would be a series that showed adults could have adventures in the paranormal-fantasy genre too. So, she created the Heaven & Earth series, a story of doomed Greek gods and their only salvation, their modern-day descendants. Her first book of the series, the Sea Archer, was immediately picked up by the New York publishing house, the Wild Rose Press, and won, “Best in Category” from the 2018 Chanticleer International Book Awards.

In the year 2020, Jeny released, Dancing Through Tears, a short story from the anthology, Australia Burns: Volume Two, highlighting the Route 91 massacre from the perspective of one family at the concert, and at Mandalay Bay. She also intends to release, the Warrior’s Progeny, and Dee’s Cornucopia, in 2020, continuing the Heaven & Earth Series.

Jeny lives in Washington State with her husband of over twenty-eight years.

Social Media Links:

Connect with Jenny here:

Website //  Facebook //Twitter: //Instagram: //LinkedIn: // Pintrest: // GoodReads: BookBub: // YouTube //Newsletter Sign-up:

 

 

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January 6, 2020 · 12:20 am

My first #authorinterview of 2020! Meet Helen C. Johannes

My first Author Interview for 2020 is with Wild Rose Press sistah, Helen C. Johannes. Helen writes fantasy romance laden with rich characters and lush settings through the pages. She has a new book out, LORD OF DRUEMARWIN, and she’s giving you a sneak peek at the end of this interview, so stick around.

First, lets’s find out a bit about Helen’s 2 lives – the writer, and the gal:

Helen C. Johannes, The Writer 

1. What drives you to write?

Stories in my head clamoring for attention and characters who simply won’t be denied their day in print.

2. What genre(s) of Romance do you write, and why?

Fantasy romance. My beloved first book was a collection of fairy tales from the European tradition. Plus, I spent formative years in the heart of Europe’s castle country where all things medieval surrounded me and history fascinated me. I could have gone into historical romance but for one important trait: I really, really like playing by my own rules. Fantasy romance lets me build medieval-style worlds that deliver the kind of storylines I want, limited only by my imagination.

3. What genre(s) of Romance do you read, and why?

I read across genres but my go-to genre is romantic suspense, both historical and contemporary. I found Agatha Christie and Mary Stewart early on, and the seamless blend of love and danger hooked me. That’s probably why I incorporate some kind of ‘ticking time bomb’ in my fantasy romances.

4. What’s your writing schedule? Do you write everyday?

As often as I can but not every day. Life has a way of setting its own schedule.

5. Give us a glimpse of the surroundings where you write. Separate room? In the kitchen? At the dining room table?

I write on my laptop at the kitchen table. It’s the warmest, sunniest room in the house (I live in a northern climate) and snacks/beverages are readily available. Plus, I’ve put my comfy office chair right up to the table

6. Are you the kind of writer who needs total quiet to compose, or are you able to filter out the typical sounds of the day and use your tunnel-vision?

When I’m deep into a scene and the words are flowing, I’m totally oblivious to anything else. Most days, though, I need quiet, or at least no one talking around or to me.

7. Do you listen to music while you write, and if so, what kind? If not, why not?

Sometimes I put on a little music, but it has to be instrumental or I’ll listen to the words rather than concentrate on my work. Lord of the Rings soundtrack or Enya, for example.

8. How did you come up with the plotline/idea for your current WIP?

The idea originated from unfinished business in PRINCE OF VAL-FEYRIDGE and, oddly enough, the Princess and the Pea fairy tale. Book one ends with their world on the brink of a new beginning. I had introduced a love interest for a major character near the end, and their love story just begged, nagged to be told in that context. My heroine faces the dilemma of the outsider, the princess who is tested by the proverbial pea to see if she and her love are worthy of the hero, his people, and the new alliances. I had fun writing all the complications that ensue before the happily ever after.

9. Which comes first for you – character or plot? And why?

Kind of both, together. I’m what I call an ‘into the mist’ writer. That means I’m a pantser with an initial, loose plan of some serious problems for my characters to solve. The way they solve those problems usually morphs as I go along and as the characters reveal more about themselves. For me, the proverbial carrot that engages me in any story is finding out where it goes and enjoying the ride.

10. What 3 words describe you, the writer?

Intuitive, creative, layered (Peggy here: I lovelovelove that description – layered!!! fabulous!)

Helen, the Gal:

Tell us one unusual thing about yourself – not related to writing!

I double-majored in German and English.

  1. Who was your first love and what age were you?

My grandmother’s neighbor’s boy; I think I was 12, he was 14.

  1. If you could relive one day, which one would it be? Think GROUNDHOG DAY, the movie for this one – you’ll have to live it over and over and….

Meeting my husband; we danced the polka, badly, and talked for hours.

  1. What’s one thing you love about your significant other?

He’s my best friend and full partner.

  1. If you had to give up one necessary-can’t-live-without-it item, what would it be?

Milk chocolate—as long as I could still have dark chocolate

  1. What three words describe you, the person?

Reserved, problem-solver, questioner

  1. If you could sing a song with Jimmy Fallon, what would it be?

I don’t sing. Honestly, nobody wants me to sing.

  1. If you could hang out with any literary character from any book penned at any time line, who would it by, why, and what would you do together?

I would go to Tuscany with the leads from Susan Elizabeth Phillips’ Breathing Room. I’d sit down to a homemade dinner outside the little farmhouse, eat all those fabulous foods, sample the local wines, and soak up the raucous interplay of that wild and loving multi-generational family.

I love the Actor’s Studio show on Bravo, so this is my version of it:

1.      Favorite sound – Ocean or lake waves

2.      Least favorite sound – Crying—babies, cats, dogs

3.      Best song every written – Bridge over Troubled Water

4.      Worst song ever written – Barking Jingle Bells

5.      Favorite actor and actress – Cary Grant and Katherine Hepburn

6.      Who would you want to be for 1 day and why? ( It can be anyone living or dead) – I’m pretty happy in my own skin

7.      What turns you on? – Sunshine, warm temps, and best friends

8.      What turns you off? – Lies

9.      Give me the worst 5 words ever heard on a first date ( here’s mine: “Is that your real hair?”) – I don’t remember words, but I remember painfully knocking knees while dancing—once—with an enthusiastic but inept partner.

10.  What’s your version of a perfect day? – Relaxing on an ocean cruise liner on a warm, sunny day at sea.

(Peggy here: I feel like we could be sistahs, Helen!! I lovelovelove Cary Grant and Kate Hepburn and grew up watching their movies and memorizing all the lines! Hee Hee)

And now, a little about LORD OF DRUEMARWIN

 PAGES FROM THE HEART Winner in Fantasy Romance

In a world of lies and betrayal, can they trust each other?

Blurb:

Lady Raell can fight, ride, and argue politics as well as her brothers. Only being mistress of her father’s household keeps her in skirts. In Naed, the new Lord of Druemarwin, she has found devotion, a kindred spirit, and a marriage promise. But when a forgotten and unwanted betrothal comes to light, she has no choice but to run.

Amidst sweeping revolution, Naed must rally his people, fend off assassination attempts, and fight against claims he’s a traitor. Then he discovers everything about his lineage and family is a lie. And his beloved belongs to another.

With lives and a kingdom at stake, Raell and Naed must find a way to protect the innocent and save their love.

Excerpt:

“Raell, now is not the time—”

Aye, it wasn’t. They stood in torchlight on an open parapet while assassins stalked them, but this might be her only chance to reach him across that precipice he’d thrown up between them, to secure the future they were meant to share.

“Does my honor mean naught? When weighed with D’nalian honor, is mine lesser because ‘tis a woman’s honor? Or because ‘tis a Tolemak’s honor? Be honest and tell me that.”

The world had gone silent; Raell could hear nothing over the rush of blood in her ears, the terrible heavy beats of her heart while she waited, dizzy with fear, breathless with longing, for the man she loved to respond with a word, a look, even a blink. Even a shift of his gaze she’d take as a sign he’d at least heard, mayhap begun to consider—

“Yes, be honest, Lord Naed,” said a voice she’d heard but once, a voice that raised all the fine hairs on her body and made her innards contract into a cold, tight knot. “Tell us both how much honor means to a bastard who’s betrayed his countrymen and his blood.”

You can get your copy here:

 Amazon // Nook // 

A little more about Helen:

Helen C. Johannes writes award-winning fantasy romance inspired by the fairy tales she grew up reading and the amazing historical places she’s visited in England, Ireland, Scotland and Germany. She writes tales of adventure and romance in fully realized worlds sprung from pure imagination and a lifelong interest in history, culture, and literature. Warriors on horseback, women who refuse to sit idly at home, and passion that cannot be denied or outrun—that’s what readers will find in her books.

 You can connect with Helen here:

Blog // Amazon // Goodreads // Bookbub //

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November 18, 2019 · 12:45 am

Something new for me: A Wild Rose Press BROTHER!

I usually promote all my sistahs from the WRP, but today I’m pleased to introduce to a new member of the Rose Garden – a brother! 

Robert Herold has just released his first book w/WRP and he very graciously dropped by to tell us all about it – and all about him, too! Sit back and learn about  the writer of THE EIDOLA PROJECT.

 

Robert, The Writer 

  1. What drives you to write?

It’s a blast. I started writing television pilots a few years ago and won some notoriety, but things weren’t going any further, so a mentor suggested I try writing a novel. I love it! The Eidola Project is my first novel. My second is at the editor, and I’m 100 pages into writing number three.

  1. What genre(s) do your write, and why?

Paranormal/horror. I don’t strictly write romance, but there are definitely romantic elements (sometimes steamy) in my books. Supernatural tales have always held a fascination with me. (See my bio.)

  1. What genre(s) do you read, and why?

I read broadly, not strictly romance, but I feel it is a key to the success of most fiction books, films, and television. I am in awe of many romance writers. They have their chops together and know how to engage their readers.

  1. What’s your writing schedule? Do you write everyday?

My day job is a middle school history/social studies teacher, hence the historical setting (the 19th Century) for The Eidola Project. Teaching is pretty demanding and I play music (sax & flute) with at least one group in the Seattle area, so I grab writing time whenever I can manage it during the week, and especially on weekends and holidays.

  1. Give us a glimpse of the surroundings where you write. Separate room? In the kitchen? At the dining room table?

I have a lair downstairs in the basement filled with kitschy collectables and lots of books! I also write on the main floor when I want a view of the outside.

  1. Are you the kind of writer who needs total quiet to compose, or are you able to filter out the typical sounds of the day and use your tunnel-vision?

I’m able to filter out a good bit of distraction, which is necessary given my chihuahua (Jangles, The Wonder Dog) is always barking. I think he’s making editorial suggestions!

  1. Do you listen to music while you write, and if so, what kind? If not, why not?

I used to do so, quite a bit, mostly jazz and classical, but lately I haven’t. Jangles’ barks are music to my ears (not)!

  1. How did you come up with the plotline/idea for your current WIP?

I’m currently working on two books. I am at the editing stage with the second book in the Eidola Project series. It involves the paranormal investigators going to Virginia (it’s 1885) to investigate a series of deaths being attributed to a werewolf. The book is titled Moonlight Becomes You.

I’m also writing the first draft of Totem of Terror. Here, the Eidola Project team travel across 1885 America to the very NW point on the Washington Territorial Coast. They are investigating a deadly shape-shifting being who is killing the local people. I came up with the plot after taking a college course on Northwest Coastal Indians and studying their myths and legends. I wrote the story for another college course on writing for publication, but the story lay dormant for many years until I decided to incorporate it into my Eidola Project series.

  1. Which comes first for you – character or plot? And why?

Well, I have my team of characters who, assuming they survive, will populate the books of the series. Before writing, however, I always come up with an ending first. Years ago I used to plot every beat of a script, but I found the actual writing to be a lot less fun. Now, I know were I want to end up, then I turn my characters loose and see what happens. It’s a lot more fun.

  1. What 3 words describe you, the writer?

Creative, engaging, cinematic.(Peggy here: I can truthfully tell you no one has ever described themself as CINEMATIC here before! Bravo!)

Robert, The Guy

  1. Tell us one unusual thing about yourself – not related to writing!

I wanted to be a werewolf as a child. It’s probably why I have a beard!

2. Who was your first love and what age were you?

I was in love with Patty Duke, the actress, who had a television show at the time. I was eight years old and wrote her a love letter:

Roses are red

Violets are blue

You look the cutest

And I love you.

My parents got a kick out of it and helped me post my love letter. To my delight, Patty Duke wrote back! She sent me an autographed photo of her holding a telephone to her ear, sitting on a cushy chair, with one of her feet in the air. The picture was signed, “Thanks for watching! Love and kisses, Patty Duke.”

I was in heaven. I would kiss the photo goodnight and sleep with it under my pillow. Needless to say, it soon started to look a little ragged.

Then heartbreak struck: A new toy store opened at a local mall and I discovered that they carried a new line of Patty Duke dolls. In each package was the exact same photo, with the exact same inscription, written in the exact same way. It had been mass-produced.

It took me years to recover.

3. If you could relive one day, which one would it be? Think GROUNDHOG DAY, the movie for this one – you’ll have to live it over and over and….

Well, the premise of the film was that Bill Murray’s character needed to relive it repeatedly until he got it right. I believe I got it right in marrying my wife, Ruth. I proposed after a month of dating, and we’ve been married for 38 years!

4. What’s one thing you love about your significant other?

Ruth is smart, sexy, funny, and caring. I can’t place one of these above the other. If I need to pick one thing, I’d say her as a whole!

5. If you had to give up one necessary-can’t-live-without-it item, what would it be?

Fried oysters. I love ‘em.

6. What three words describe you, the person?

Caring, creative, fun-loving.

7. If you could sing a song with Jimmy Fallon, what would it be?

The Monster Mash

8. If you could hang out with any literary character from any book penned at any time, who would it be, why, and what would you do together?

I tend to fall in love with many of the women I read about. So, I guess it would be the female protagonist in whatever I’m reading.

What would we do together? Well, let’s just say, don’t tell my wife.

Bonus round

I love the Actor’s Studio show on Bravo, so this is my version of it:

  1. Favorite sound. An amazing jazz solo or jazz vocalist.
  2. Least favorite sound. My chihuahua’s barking!
  3. Best song ever written. “It’s Crazy, But I’m In Love,” performed by Sarah Vaughn & Clifford Brown
  4. Worst song ever written. MacArthur Park
  5. Favorite actor and actress. Jimmy Stewart & Donna Reed in It’s a Wonderful Life
  6. Who would you want to be for 1 day and why? (It can be anyone living or dead) Shakespeare. I’d like to share a bit of his genius.
  7. What turns you on? My wife.
  8. What turns you off? Mean people.
  9. Give me the worst 5 words ever heard on a first date ( here’s mine: “Is that your real hair?”) “I just wanna be friends.”
  10. What’s your version of a perfect day? Making love with my wife, walking the dog, my book is announced as a best-seller, writing a new chapter for my latest book, having a delicious dinner, seeing an outstanding play or musical in the evening with my wife.

And now, as promised, here’s a little sneak peek at THE EIDOLA PROJECT

 

It’s 1885 and a drunk and rage-filled Nigel Pickford breaks up a phony medium’s séance. A strange twist of fate soon finds him part of a team investigating the afterlife.

The Eidola Project is an intrepid group of explorers dedicated to bringing the light of science to that which has been feared, misunderstood, and often manipulated by charlatans. They are a psychology professor, his assistant, an African-American physicist, a sideshow medium, and now a derelict, each possessing unique strengths and weaknesses.

Called to the brooding Hutchinson Estate to investigate rumored hauntings, they encounter deadly supernatural forces and a young woman driven to the brink of madness.

Will any of them survive?

Excerpt:

Sarah retrieved the lamp and twisted the peg. The outhouse door swung open on its own, and she gasped.

“Momma?” Sarah asked as she held out her lantern.

No. A ruined version of Molly stood in the doorway. Before her disappearance, people often commented on the sixteen-year-old’s beauty, but in the last twenty-eight days birds pecked out her pretty blue eyes, and maggots now swam in the sockets. Molly’s head hung to the left at an odd angle. Her skin looked mottled with patches of gray, blue, and black. A beetle crawled out of Molly’s half-opened mouth and darted back in.

Sarah’s heart leaped to her throat, and she jumped back. She lost her footing, fell onto the outhouse seat, and dropped the lantern to the floor. She bent to retrieve it; thankful the glass globe did not break. Sarah looked up and saw an empty doorway.

Impossible, she told herself. Must’ve dozed off, had a nightmare, and woke up when I dropped the lamp.

Her heart still pounded in her chest, and Sarah took a deep breath to calm herself.

Holding the lamp before her once more, she crept out…

Buy Links:

Amazon // B&N //  Kobo 

A little more about Robert…

The supernatural always had the allure of forbidden fruit, ever since my mother refused to allow me, as a boy, to watch creature features on late night TV. She caved in. (Well, not literally.)

As a child, fresh snow provided me the opportunity to walk out onto neighbors’ lawns halfway and then make paw prints with my fingers as far as I could stretch. I would retrace the paw and boot prints, then fetch the neighbor kids and point out that someone turned into a werewolf on their front lawn. (They were skeptical.)

I have pursued many interests over the years, but the supernatural always called to me. You could say I was haunted. Finally, following the siren’s call, I wrote The Eidola Project, based on a germ of an idea I had as a teenager.

Ultimately, I hope my book gives you the creeps, and I mean that in the best way possible.

You can connect with Robert here:

Website // goodreads// facebook // youtube //twitter //instagram // pinterest 

One more word from Robert before we say goodbye:

I’m really pleased with my 16-second animated book trailer. Please check it out at:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SZovJ-MZQ5Y

Peggy here: Robert, thanks for stopping by to give a little preview of The EIDOLA PROJECT and a little glimpse into your life. Be well.

 

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August 13, 2019 · 12:30 am

A visit with #author Karilyn Bentley, and a little exciting news to share!

When I first started writing I knew I’d meet people/writers on whose shoulders I would stand. Writers who paved the way, took risks, and basically helped me be a better writer in the long run. Today’s guest is one of those people/writers. Wild Rose sistah Karilyn Bentley has visited with me several times before when she’s had one of her newest, fabulous books released. Today’s visit is extra special because she’s got some amazeballs news for us all.

Karilyn…..

Hi Peggy! Thank you for letting me drop by for a visit!

I’m happy to announce the release of The Shadowheart Curse! This book is special to me for several reasons, the main one being that it will be turned into a movie. You can even live stream the making of the movie! Pretty cool, eh? I was asked to write the book based off an idea the movie director had. He wanted to turn ten books into movies and I was asked to write one of those books. Super exciting! And nerve wracking. I had to write a story with an already decided upon locale, character goals, and basic plotline. The story is set in Italy, a place I’ve never been to, and the whole story takes place at an abandoned mill (totally creepy!). Needless to say, research was needed. Most of my research centered on abandoned mills like the one in the story. It started off as a way to try to see what the inside of an ancient mill looked like (the pictures the director gave me of where the movie will be filmed only showed the outside), but quickly turned into a fascinating side trail. There is a place in Sorrento, Italy called Valley of the Mills where a bunch of mills were abandoned and the land took over. The buildings are creepy, yet cool, to look at with moss and trees covering their stones. Check it out: http://desertedplaces.blogspot.com/2013/12/the-abandoned-mill-in-sorrento-italy.html

You’ll have to watch the movie to see the pictures of the mill in The Shadowheart Curse. <evil laugh!>

The movie comes out 2/14/20 and you can go here (https://deadlyten.com) and sign up to know when the live streaming event occurs.

Read on for the book blurb and excerpt. And don’t forget to go to https://deadlyten.com and sign up to know when the movie is live streamed!

 

BLURB:

Escaping New York after a client’s untimely death, medium Adrianna Sinclair flees to her family property in Italy. All she wants is to avoid ghosts, but an attractive one tempts her in ways she never knew possible.  Luca Fausto has been trapped on the Romani property for over a century for a crime he didn’t commit.  Adrianna may be the answer to breaking the curse that keeps him bound.  Standing in their way is a demonic spirit’s plan for revenge.  Will they prevail or will Luca be cursed to the shadows forever?

 

EXCERPT:

Lights drew her attention to the opposite wing of the mill, where a man stood staring at her window. At her. Breath caught in her lungs as she froze.

But only for a brief moment until she realized it wasn’t a man, at least not a living one. Her breath escaped on a whoosh of relief. Intuition whispered the man was the spirit who’d watched her last night.

The one from her dream.

Shadows clung to his body, ghostly fingers releasing as he stepped into the dim slash of moonlight. Lights flickered from behind him, like the dying gasps of sputtering candles. Dressed in a white shirt with an old-fashioned high collar, sleeves rolled halfway up his forearms, and dark trousers, he reminded her of a working man in a World War I photograph. As if he had removed his coat and tie and rolled up his sleeves to get to work.

Except the men in those photos didn’t sport the wide-eyed, happy look of this man. Ghost. Whatever. Yeah, he wasn’t the only one surprised. She’d sworn never to see a ghost again, yet there stood a ghost, captured by her gaze. The man was hot, in an old-fashioned way. At least he didn’t sport a handle-bar moustache.

He gestured to her, his hand beckoning in a “come here” motion.

She squeezed the bridge of her nose. Was she actually thinking of heading his way? Judging by the way her feet pointed toward the door, she’d already decided. Dammit. She might not want to see a ghost or speak to a spirit, but past experience told her if she ignored them, they ramped up the annoying factor.

How bad could it be to talk to an attractive spirit?

Buy LInks

Amazon // B&N // iBooks 

A little about Karilyn :

Karilyn Bentley’s love of reading stories and preference for sitting in front of a computer at home instead of in a cube, drove her to pen her own works, blending fantasy and romance mixed with a touch of funny.

Her paranormal romance novella, Werewolves in London, placed in the Got Wolf contest and started her writing career as an author of sexy heroes and lush fantasy worlds.

Karilyn lives in Colorado with her own hunky hero, two crazy dogs, aka The Kraken and Sir Barks-A-Lot, and a handful of colorful saltwater fish.

 

Where to find Karilyn:

Website // Newsletter // Facebook // Twitter // Goodreads // Pinterest // Bookbub

Peggy here: OMG!!! isn’t that the most exciting news!!! I can’t wait to watch the movie and read the book. Thanks so much for allowing me to share your fabulous news today, Karilyn. Best of luck to you, and as always, thanks for being such a supportive WRP sistah! 

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December 27, 2018 · 12:00 am

Wild Rose Press KARILYN BENTLEY pays a visit…

I’ve got Wild Rose sistah Karilyn Bentley back with me today and she’s got a fabulous announcement for y’all. Karilyn, take it away…..

‘TIS THE SOUND OF DEMON LORE

Hi Peggy! Thank you for letting me blog with you today! I’m happy to announce the Audible version of Demon Lore, the first book in my Demon Huntress series. The narrator is Joan Dukore and she does a great job bringing my characters to life.

In case you were wondering, it took a while to bring the book to life. It felt like forever (says the impatient author) to get a narrator, but I’m glad for the wait because I love the audio version. It’s so much fun to hear your book read by a narrator.

Want to try a sample? Click HERE to listen.

Here’s a little bit about Demon Lore:

Gin Crawford has enough problems dealing with her empath abilities. Finding out she’s the world’s newest demon-slayer is the last thing she needs. Unfortunately, when she slips on a mysterious bracelet she is given no other choice. On the plus side, her new gig comes with Tall, Dark and Handsome, a mage who may or may not have her best interests at heart. Thrust into a power-play between good and evil, Gin must choose a side before she becomes the next victim in the ongoing battle.

And an excerpt:

The evil man-thing stands on my porch, his lips turning in a menacing smile of death. I don’t need to touch him to know he wants me dead. Muscles freeze, trapping my breath in my lungs. Like a rabbit in view of a wolf, I’m immobilized, waiting for death’s blow. Time slows, his gaze locks on mine, trapping me in place.

Move, move, move! My mind screams as the man’s fingers twitch.

But the spike of adrenaline explodes into my limbs too late to stop the backhand blow slamming across my jaw.

I superman it halfway across the living room. Land on the hardwood floor in a thud of pain-ridden limbs. My jaw morphs into a screaming ball of nerves. My head no sooner hits the floor than I hear the bracelet scream, a high-pitched wail quivering through my skin like vibrations from a tuning fork. The bracelet tightens around my wrist, cutting off the circulation, and then it loosens with a pop at the same time I hear the door click closed.

Ohgodohgodohgod, I’m going to die. I don’t want to die. No, no, no, no, no. Pain and terror hold me crumpled on the floor as my mind crawls backward in time.

But I’m no longer a child, fearful of fists and words, cowering on the ground.

I’m a fighter.

My head spins, but I refuse to lie on the floor waiting to be killed, so I attempt to stand. Evil Guy laughs as I ass-plant it. Laughs as a moan escapes my lips. He takes a step toward me, right arm drawn back for a hit. His fist hurls toward my face, but I manage to block it with my left arm. My right arm, the one with the bracelet, shoves forward, slamming into his chest.

His black eyes widen, mouth open in surprise, his hands fluttering to his chest before dropping. I stare at my hand, stare hard, for I’m as surprised as Evil Guy. The bracelet had become a sword, a long, thin spike of metal extending from the silver links, straight into Evil Guy’s heart.

A sword?

Definitely a sword. The flat of the blade rests against the back of my hand, cool metal heating from the warmth of my skin. Small silver links circle around my palm, lending stability to the two-foot long sword.

I’m not sure which scares me more, Evil Guy paying me a visit or the fact the bracelet performed a morphing trick.

Where to find Demon Lore:

Amazon // B&N // TWRP // iBooks // Audible

All about Karilyn:

Karilyn Bentley’s love of reading stories and preference of sitting in front of a computer at home instead of in a cube, drove her to pen her own works, blending fantasy and romance mixed with a touch of funny.

Her paranormal romance novella, Werewolves in London, placed in the Got Wolf contest and started her writing career as an author of sexy heroes and lush fantasy worlds.

Karilyn lives in Colorado with her own hunky hero, a crazy dog nicknamed The Kraken, a silly not-quite-a-puppy, and a handful of colorful saltwater fish.

Where to find Karilyn:

Website // Facebook  // Twitter // Goodreads // Pinterest // Newsletter // Bookbub

 

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