#SaturdaySpotlight is on Desaree Armand & Sealed in Silence

Good Morning and Welcome to the last edition of Saturday Spotlight for September 2025! 

Today's guest is brand new to our blog. Not sure exactly when I met Desaree, but I'm sure glad I did. She is a gifted author in the Lake Charles area and we see each other regularly at author events around town.

Thanks for visiting with us today, Desaree! Tell us about your latest book.

So happy to be here, Pam! 

The idea for my story came about when I was 19 years old. I had just been dumped by my best guy friend whom, at the time, I had wanted to be with as more than just friends. He had dumped me to make his girlfriend happy, whom he eventually moved to Texas to be with and married. As far as I know, they are actually still married today, 21 years later.

Anyway, I was severely depressed at that time because of what had happened. I was in my second semester in college, living in a dorm with no real friends and feeling completely isolated. I remember one day I was driving through the city. I don’t remember where I was going, I just remember that I was listening to a CD. Evanescence to be exact. It was a popular album at the time, and it expressed how I was feeling in a way that made me feel normalized in my pain.

This song starts playing, My Last Breath, and when she sang these particular lyrics... 

“Look for me in the white forest

Hiding in a hollow tree (come find me)

I know you hear me

I can taste it in your tears”

I was suddenly visualizing being like in a dead place actually hidden in a hollow tree and making the guy who’d hurt me feel sorry and guilty for having broken off our friendship the way he had. I suddenly felt like I needed to write a story that reflected that in some way, but I didn’t want to write the story as if the main character would actually do that because first of all, I knew I wouldn’t, I just felt it, and second of all, I felt that no one else would want to read a story about someone who would actually do something like that. So, I took my visualization and tweaked the details to where it ultimately ended up having a completely different storyline but with the same type of other world idea.

But even then, I spent almost 20 years trying to write the story and never getting far. Over that time, as I grew older and more mentally mature, gaining adult life experiences, the characters went from teenagers to college age and finally to their mid-twenties. I was only able to eventually write the book when I was working at a job that allowed me a lot of downtime with nothing else to do. I was working as a phone operator for a small hospital and only getting about 10 calls an hour to transfer. In between those calls, I started writing the story for real and was finally able to finish it.

Oh my goodness! Isn't it amazing how we get our ideas and how long it sometimes takes for a certain idea to come to fruition? Thanks for sharing this! Share your blurb and exerpt please...

Of course, here is the Blurb...

Emily Bartlett is a young woman who feels that her life is all figured out. From her career to her home, Emily is the master of her universe. She is fiercely independent, but at what cost? Alex Coleman is one of Emily's best friends and they've been close from a young age. All of that changes when Alex reveals a secret to Emily that he's been keeping to himself for more than a decade. One night, after the disastrous results of Alex's revelation, a series of events leads Emily to wind up trapped and alone in an altered state of being. Can Emily, with the help of Alex, her younger sister Allie, and her best girlfriend Samantha, confront the memories and past choices that are keeping her trapped? Can Emily find her way out before time runs out? It's a story of will they or won't they and a race against time with a little science-fiction and magic mixed in.

And an Exerpt...

My head was pounding, and my entire body hurt. I struggled to open my eyes and once I had, everything was a little blurry. As my vision started to clear, I realized that I was staring up at the sky, which was orange as if it were evening, but it was a solid orange. There were no streaks of pink or purple, and no clouds to be seen. I couldn’t see the sun or moon at all either. Where was I?

I pulled myself up slowly and realized that I had been lying on a wooden bench. As I slid my legs to the ground, I realized that I was on the bench in front of the school. The school that I had attended kindergarten through twelfth grade in and had been a teacher at for a few years now. But something was wrong.

There was no street or sidewalk in front of the bench like there should be. In fact, there was nothing in front of the bench. No grass, no trees, no houses, and no people. There wasn’t even any wind. The air was warm and completely still. Stretching out in front of me, all the way to the horizon was nothing but sand. As if I were in the middle of a desert.

I stood up slowly and turned around to take a better look at the school. It was the same school alright. Only now, it looked dark and abandoned. All of the windows looked black and blown out and the building itself was an ashen shade of grey instead of its normal dark red brick. Once again, there was nothing around the building. Only sand. A shudder ran through me at the sight of the tall, dark, imposing building.

I looked away from it. In that instant, I saw movement out of the corner of my eye. I looked back at the building, but it seemed that whatever I thought I’d seen was gone. As I looked around, it hit me that I was completely alone in this strange place. What had happened, and where was I?

There didn’t seem to be anywhere else for me to go except this strange, extremely creepy version of the school. Although, I was afraid, I was even more afraid that wherever I was, I might be stuck unless I found answers. So, I started walking towards the school. I took a deep breath, pulled open the door, and took a step inside.

The inside of the building was no less creepy than the outside. There didn’t seem to be any electricity. The lockers that lined the hallways looked rusted out as if they hadn’t been touched in years. Some of them were missing their doors, creating small dark caverns along the wall. There were random pieces of paper strewn up and down the hall. I picked one up, but there was nothing on it. I picked up a few more, but they were all blank.

As I continued walking, I passed a few classrooms. Every door that I opened sported dark empty rooms filled with old wooden desks, more blank paper strewn all over, and graffiti sprayed all over the walls. What was going on? I came to the staircase that led to the second floor. As I looked up at the landing, once again I saw movement out of the corner of my eye. It had come from further back on the first floor. I looked towards the classroom door where I had seen it, but once again, there was nothing there.

I walked slowly towards that room instead of going up to the second floor and looked in. This one looked the same as all the rest, but with one major difference. Sitting there, behind the teacher’s desk, was a dark hooded figure. It looked over at me as I stood in the doorway. All I saw where a face should be inside the hood, was nothing. Just a dark empty hole. The figure stood up silently and started slowly coming towards me. It seemed to be gliding instead of walking. It was then that I screamed.

Wonderful, Desaree! Where can Sealed in Silence be found?

Glad you enjoyed the excerpt, Pam. Sealed in Silence is available at Amazon for Kindle and in Print and through Ingram Spark. 

If you're in, around or about the SWLA or SETEX area, you can pick up a copy of Sealed in Silence at Krews, Books & Brews, Bux Kajun Korner and eff. Oct. 1st, The Charmed Page bookstore. 

Perfect! Now tell us more about yourself and where we can connect with you.

Sure! 

As you indicated in the introduction, I live in SW Louisiana with my husband Merrick and our Dachshund, Floyd. I work full-time as a counselor by trade. In my free time, I read contemporary fiction and follow other creative and artistic pursuits. I start my mornings with a good cup of coffee and soothing coffee-shop sounds while reading. You can connect with me on Facebook.

OK. Again, THANKS for visiting and sharing your book with us, Desaree. We certainly wish you the best of luck and God's blessings with it.

Friends, if you're a fan of YA Paranormal Romance books, grab a copy of Sealed in Silence today. Also, don't forget to check out our Featured Author and the Featured books in our sidebar. If you love audiobooks, take advantage of Audible's FREE Trial Membership.

Until next time, take care, God Bless and happy Fall, Y'all!

PamT

#SaturdaySpotlight is on DiAnn Mills & Canyon of Deceit!

Good Morning,

Can you believe September is half over already?!

I can't. Been crazy, busy this month as usual LOL!

Today's guest has been here numerous times but it always my pleasure to welcome my friend, DiAnn Mills to share her latest book with us. Welcome back, DiAnn, tell us what makes Canyon of Deceit so special...

Thanks for having me back, Pam!

Story ideas have a way of wiggling into my heart and taking root. Canyon of Deceit hit the curiosity bullseye, especially the concept of living off-grid. Imagine totally roughing it—no food, water, electricity, cell phone connection, yet plenty of snakes! 

Here’s the scoop on my new release:

A rescue team searches for a missing young girl and suspects all is not as it seems in this high-stakes romantic suspense novel.

When wilderness survival expert Therese Palmer receives a frantic phone call from former colleague Professor Rurik Ivanov, she is shocked by the news that his young daughter, Alina, is missing—and that Rurik wants Therese’s help finding her. She’s sure Rurik hasn’t given her the whole story . . . especially since he refuses to report the kidnapping to the police. Yet with a child’s life hanging in the balance, Therese can’t turn down this mission. She knows the clock is ticking and she can’t do this alone.

Therese reaches out to Texas Ranger Blane Gardner, whom she met seven months ago during one of her training courses in wilderness survival skills. Blane’s specialized training and background with the Crisis Negotiation Unit make him uniquely prepared for this search-and-rescue mission. He agrees to help Therese and to accept Rurik’s terms to keep Alina’s disappearance quiet, and as the two begin working together, Therese is determined the spark growing between them won’t distract from their mission to save Alina.

Traversing deep into the desert of Guadalupe Mountains National Park, Alina’s last known location, Therese and Blane struggle to separate truth from lies within the mix of intel they’re receiving. As they close in on answers that suggest the involvement of Russian organized crime and a high-profile international assassination attempt, they must fight to rescue Alina before she becomes an innocent casualty of a much bigger plot—no matter the risk to their own lives.

My adventuresome spirit propelled me to hike those mountains and find out all I could about where my hero and heroine attempted to rescue precious Alina. Dear reader, I love to visit the setting of my stories. I want to experience the area in every way possible. So my husband and I drove from our home in Houston into southeast New Mexico—because a person can’t drive to there except from New Mexico.

My husband and I drove into Guadalupe Mountains National Park’s Dog Canyon. The rocky cliffs, barren countryside, and desolate mountain beauty captivated me. In route, horses and cattle ran free-range, so we had to stop a few times before reaching our destination. Park rangers offered tremendous help with their knowledge of the area. Some of the information I’d never have known without their insight.

Arriving at the trailhead of Dog Canyon stole my breath, from the wildlife to the desert growth, I snapped pics like a crazy woman. My sanity in pursuing research might be in question, but that’s the life of a writer. Some of those pics are on a Pinterest board devoted to Canyon of Deceit.

Writing romantic suspense challenges me to reflect on the daily changes in our world. I always learn about careers, settings, behavior, the power of motivation, and so much more. Are you tempted to learn more about this story? Check out the book info page and a special tab for book clubs. 

Let me hear from you! You, dear reader, are why I write suspense, romance, and adventure.

Oh my goodness! What a wonderful adventure you had, DiAnn. I love traveling too and Dog Canyon sounds like an interesting place to visit. Can you give us a little more info on the book?

Sure, here's the blurb...

 A rescue team searches for a missing young girl and suspects all is not as it seems in this high-stakes romantic suspense novel from the author of Lethal Standoff and Facing the Enemy.

When wilderness survival expert Therese Palmer receives a frantic phone call from former colleague Professor Rurik Ivanov, she is shocked by the news that his young daughter, Alina, is missing―and that Rurik wants Therese’s help finding her. She’s sure Rurik hasn’t given her the whole story . . . especially since he refuses to report the kidnapping to the police. Yet with a child’s life hanging in the balance, Therese can’t turn down this mission. She knows the clock is ticking and she can’t do this alone.

Therese reaches out to Texas Ranger Blane Gardner, whom she met seven months ago during one of her training courses in wilderness survival skills. Blane’s specialized training and background with the Crisis Negotiation Unit make him uniquely prepared for this search-and-rescue mission. He agrees to help Therese and to accept Rurik’s terms to keep Alina’s disappearance quiet, and as the two begin working together, Therese is determined the spark growing between them won’t distract from their mission to save Alina.

Traversing deep into the desert of Guadalupe Mountains National Park, Alina’s last known location, Therese and Blane struggle to separate truth from lies within the mix of intel they’re receiving. As they close in on answers that suggest the involvement of Russian organized crime and a high-profile international assassination attempt, they must fight to rescue Alina before she becomes an innocent casualty of a much bigger plot―no matter the risk to their own lives.

You can Read an Excerpt on HERE.

THANKS, DiAnn! Now give us the scoop on you ...

DiAnn Mills is a bestselling author who invites her readers to step into stories where suspense meets adventure and romance warms the heart. Known for crafting unforgettable characters tangled in unpredictable plots, DiAnn believes every breath we take unfolds a story waiting to be told—so why not make it thrilling?

Her novels have consistently landed on bestseller lists including CBA, ECPA, and Publishers Weekly, and have won prestigious awards such as the Christy, Selah, Golden Scroll, Inspirational Readers’ Choice, and Carol awards.

DiAnn is a founding board member of American Christian Fiction Writers and Conference Advisor for the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers. She actively participates in Advanced Writers and Speakers Association, Mystery Writers of America, the Jerry Jenkins Writers Guild, and International Thriller Writers, DiAnn passionately invests in helping fellow authors succeed through mentoring, book coaching, and editing. She travels nationwide speaking and teaching engaging writing workshops.

A proud coffee snob who roasts her own beans, DiAnn also enjoys diving into good books, experimenting in the kitchen, and unabashedly spoiling her grandchildren—whom she insists are the smartest kids in the universe. She and her husband make their home under the sunny skies of Houston, Texas.

Connect with DiAnn online for behind-the-scenes glimpses, writing tips, and lively discussions: Facebook, X, Instagram, Pinterest, Goodreads, BookBub, YouTube, LinkedIn, or her website: diannmills.com.

Canyon of Deceit is available through your favorite bookstore or online retailer as well as Amazon in Paperback, for Kindle and in Audio. In fact it's FREE on Audible with a membership trial!

Thank You, DiAnn. We wish you the best of luck and God's blessings with your new release.

Hope you enjoyed DiAnn's spotlight friends and that you'll check back weekly for more great authors and their books as well as Featured Authors/Artists and Featured Books in the sidebar.

Until next time, take care and God bless.

PamT

#SaturdaySpotlight is on Randy Overbeck & Red Shadows at Saugatuck

Good Morning and Welcome!

You may remember seiing this fellow's Featured Author page last month and this book in the sidebar, well today we're getting a peek into why Randy wrote Red Shadows at Saugatuck...

Take it away Randy!

As an author, I enjoy all the aspects of writing—the research to get the

details right, the inventing of the tale, the crafting of the narrative, the editing and the thrill of completing another piece readers might find interesting. My series, the Haunted Shores Mysteries, have received such a tremendous response from critics and readers alike that I’ve been amazed and thrilled. The novels have earned ten national awards including Best Book Award (Chanticleer Books and Reviews), Gold Award (LiteraryTitan) and Mystery of the Year (ReaderViews) and

achieved a #1 and #2 bestseller status on Amazon and B & N.

Readers have responded so well to the first three books in the Haunted

Shores Mysteries series—which chronicle the path of Darrell and Erin from meeting to falling in love, to getting married—I thought the narrative was ready for the next chapter. So in this entry, Darrell and Erin have a precocious little five-year-old, who’s inherited his father’s ability to see ghosts. Darrell returns home to Michigan, which gave me a chance to feature his interesting extended family. In this novel, readers will find another great whodunit set in another stunning resort

town, this time Saugatuck, Michigan. And I’ve wrapped the haunted aura of Native American spiritualty around the mystery of the murder. In the words of anearly reviewer, readers will find a tale that is “socially relevant and strangelybeautiful  in its grief, haunting in every sense of the word.” (litandcoffee reviews)

Wow...OK, now can we get a peek into the book?

Sure, here is the Blurb...

Darrell Henshaw hoped he was past it all. After all, no ghosts had visited him for years. Instead, he learns his five-year-old-son, Leo has inherited his “gift.” 

Now, they both can see ghosts.

This time, Darrell drives his young family 800 miles to celebrate his Aunt Gertrude’s 80th birthday. But, once in the resort  town of Saugatuck, Michigan, their participation gets derailed by the spirit of a Native teen who went missing weeks earlier. When he and Leo inquire about the girl, the locals dismiss their concerns—"Those girls run away all the time.”  Still, as questions pile up and threats grow, Darrell senses they may have stumbled onto something far worse and even more evil than one missing teen. 

Can Darrell continue to pursue justice for the girl if it places his wife and five-year-old son in danger?

And an Excerpt...

Darrell chanced another look in the rearview and saw the SUV accelerating, closing the distance. Darrell stared, fixated on the wide silver grill growing larger in his mirror. Alternating glances from the road ahead to the car behind, he watched it move closer, now less than a car length. He stared at the shield, could make out its colors of silver, gold, black and red. He checked out the road ahead then shot another look at the Cadillac emblem. In the center of the shield, he saw a small nick, like a stone from the road had chipped it. His gaze returned to the asphalt ahead of him.

He punched the accelerator and felt his Taurus respond. When the distance between the cars opened up a bit, he checked the speedometer. The needle moved past eighty. The scenery flew by. He didn’t think he could keep this up for long. At least, the road was straight…for now.

He sensed more than saw movement behind him and yanked his gaze back to the rearview mirror. The SUV accelerated even more and drew still closer, the black frame and tinted windshield filling his mirror. Darrell’s knuckles tightened on the steering wheel. The car came so close, the grill with the shield disappeared from his view. The darkened windshield was all Darrell could see through his mirror. 

God, he must be within a foot. He’s going to ram me.

He floored the gas pedal and the engine whined in protest. The needle passed eighty-five. He wanted to turn his head and look back through the rear window but couldn’t chance it. Not at this speed. He had to stay focused on the road ahead. His Taurus raced along the blacktop. 

Then it started. First, a few thunks on the roof and, within seconds, the sky opened up, the rain cascading in sheets. He flipped the wipers on high and stared through the windshield at the rain-slicked asphalt. Damn, what else can go wrong? Driving like this in the rain was major-league stupid.

He needed to slow down in the downpour but couldn’t. He feared if he slowed, even a little, the larger SUV would slam into him and probably run him off the road. He chanced another glance in the rearview and saw…nothing. All he could see looking back was the torrential rain slicing down onto the blacktop. 

Where had the Cadillac gone? Could he have turned off when the rain hit and Darrell hadn’t noticed? He didn’t think so but where was the car? He stared ahead and then shot another glance in the mirror. Nothing.

Then, he caught some movement in his peripheral vision. The Cadillac SUV had slid over into the oncoming lane. He was passing the Taurus on the left. He must’ve disappeared into Darrell’s blind spot before pulling even with the Taurus. Darrell stared from the SUV beside him to the road ahead. As far as he could tell, both lanes seemed empty of traffic, but the rain reduced how far he could see.

He shot a glance to his side. The Cadillac had pulled up, almost even with his car. He peered across but could make out nothing but the damn dark tinted glass. He jerked his gaze back to the road. What was this idiot going to do? Pass him and make him skid on the wet road? He risked a glance in the rearview to see if there was a second car, to block him in. Nothing.

The SUV inched forward, both cars hurtling at almost ninety! This was crazy. No, this was suicide. He should brake and slow down, let the Cadillac whiz by him. But he feared what might happen in the rain. He could hydroplane, lose traction and skid. 

He had no time to consider any options. 

Right then, the SUV surged forward and steered hard to the right, angling in front of him, cutting off the Taurus. Darrell had no choice. He stepped on his brake so as not to hit the Cadillac. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw the SUV whiz into his lane right in front of him. He yanked the wheel to the right, swerving to avoid hitting the other car. His tires slipped on the rain-slicked asphalt. He tried to control the steering wheel but felt the car skid onto the narrow shoulder. He slammed on the brakes as hard as he could and watched the car go over the edge of the shoulder. His heart raced. He practically stood on the brake. The car bumped over the shoulder. It bounced down into a ditch and partway up. The Taurus jerked to a stop, slamming his head into the steering wheel. 

Everything went dark.

Oh My Goodness! Excellent, edge-of-your-seat excerpt. Tell us where we can find Red Shadows at Saugatuck and give us the lowdown on you...

Thanks, Pam. Red Shadows at Saugatuck can be found at Amazon and other Online Retailers. Below is my "official" bio.

Dr. Randy Overbeck is an award-winning educator, author, speaker and podcaster. As an educator, he served children for more than three decades and has mined that experience to create captivating fiction, authoring two series, the bestselling series, “The Haunted Shores Mysteries,” and the award-winning series, “Lessons in Peril.” His novels have won critical acclaim and garnered national awards including Mystery of the Year (ReaderViews) Best Book Award (Chanticleer Books and Reviews) and the Gold Award (Literary Titan) and amassed hundreds of 5-star reviews on Amazon and Goodreads. 

Dr. Overbeck also hosts the popular podcast, “Great Stories about Great Storytellers,” which reveals the unusual and sometimes strange backstories of famous authors, directors and poets and can be heard wherever listeners get their podcasts. He is a speaker in considerable demand, sharing his popular presentations about ghosts and the world of book publishing with hundreds of audiences all over the U.S. 

As a member of the Mystery Writers of America, Dr. Overbeck is an active member of the literary community, contributing to a writers’ critique group, serving as a mentor to emerging writers and participating in writing conferences such as Killer Nashville and the Midwest Writers Workshop.

When he’s not researching, writing, speaking or podcasting, Randy enjoys traveling with his wife Cathy and visiting both his far-flung family and the scenic locations around this country, often in search of inspiration for his next great story.

More info about his novels, programs and podcast can be found at his website. Contact him at: randyoverbeck@authorrandyoverbeck.com and connect with him on Facebook, X, Amazon, Instagram, BookBub and GoodReads.

Thank You, so much, Randy for sharing your book with us today. We certainly wish you the best of luck and God's blessings with your work.

Hope you enjoyed today's spotlight, friends and that you'll check back weekly for another Saturday Spotlight.

Until next time, take care, God bless and remember to show a little kindness today.

PamT

#SaturdaySpotlight is on Jaylon Martin & I Talk to Horses!

I met this young man a decade or more ago when he walked into a Bayou Writers meeting already a published author at 16 years of age and have been impressed with him ever since. Welcome, Jaylon! Tell us about why you wrote, I Talk to Horses... 

Thanks for having me, Ms. Pam! I wrote the poetry collection “I Talk To Horses” to inform my readers on the impact equine therapy has had on me. I started visiting Almosta Ranch, located in Sulphur, LA, in April 2024. That is where I bonded with my horse best friend Beau. I started equine therapy in order to heal from a painful past that was intertwined with addiction and mental abuse that I experienced in my final year of college. Since then, I actively inform others about equine therapy and the positive impact it can make. I consider I Talk To Horses my favorite book I ever written, coming from someone who’s written five books. The reason is because of the healing headspace I was in.

Love this, Jaylon! As you know, I too experienced the healing presence of horses and ranch life after my husband passed away. So excited for you and this book. Give us more please...

Sure, here is the Blurb...

Although I began living a life that embraced sobriety, there were still a lot of past traumas I needed to unpack.

Growing up, the sight of horses always excited me—I admired them deeply. I never knew there was a kind of therapy that incorporated them. This is called equine therapy, a therapeutic process that involves the presence of horses. After a year of loss and rediscovering who I truly am, I felt this was exactly what I needed.

Almosta Ranch was where my equine therapy journey began. It was there that I met many loving horses—especially Beau, who became one of my best friends. My bond with these horses encouraged me to view my past through a new lens: one of forgiveness—for myself and others—and of self-love.

The 22 poems in this book are about more than healing—they are about experiencing transformation, showing love from a distance, and truly letting go of the things that have weighed me down.

“Many wonder about the change in me, and I never reveal what my source is. Happily, in this book, I reveal...

I Talk to Horses.”

Folks can read an excerpt and purchase the book on Amazon.

The album, I Talk to Horses is also available on all music streaming platforms! All 22 poems! This is a blend of spoken word accompanied by country music instrumentally performed by Taylor Fillion.

How Wonderful, Jaylon!

How about a little information on yourself and where readers can find out more about your body of work...

Sure... My name is Jaylon J. Martin, and I was born and raised in Lake Charles, LA. I started writing books at age 13 and began to publish them at age 16. Sci-fi, poetry-self-help, and fantasy are my holy trinity of genres I enjoy to write. Whether if I’m labeled as a writer or author, I prefer to be titled as a storyteller, which has been a dream of mine ever since I was three years old. My motive is to give my readers an enjoyable time through the pages and touch their souls and hearts with my words. It’s always a gift to write and as a storyteller, I never expect anything in return. All of my books can be found on Amazon. Readers can find out more about me by visiting my Website where they can sign up to receive my newsletter, and Amazon Author Page as well as Facebook, Instagram, Threads and LinkedIn. 

Thank You, So Much Jaylon, for sharing I Talk to Horses with us today! You are certainly an ispiration to everyone who meets you and we wish you the Best of luck and God's blessings on this, and all of your projects. 

Hope you enjoyed Jaylon's spotlight friends and that you'll check out his work. Stop by every week for another edition of Saturday Spotlight and be sure to check out our Featured Author and Featured books in the sidebar as well as our collaborative promotion of Autumn Reads with Keuka Roots.

Until next time, take care and God bless.

PamT