Pamela S Thibodeaux ~ "Inspirational with an Edge!": alicia m dean

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorAliciaDean/

Twitter: @Alicia_Dean_

Instagram: AliciaDeanAuthor

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/alicia-dean

Pinterest: https://pinterest.com/aliciamdean/

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/468339.Alicia_Dean

Alicia's latest release, Precarious, part of the Martini Club 4 1940's series, along with the other books in this series - Pampered by Kathy L Wheeler, Perilous by Amanda McCabe and Priceless by Krysta Scott can be purchased at Amazon.

SO happy everyone got to spend that quality time together, Alicia! Hope you enjoyed today's post, friends and that you'll check back weekly for Wednesday Words with Friends and Saturday Spotlight.

Until next time take care and be blessed.

PamT

Saturday, April 25, 2020

#SaturdaySpotlight is on Alicia Dean & Precarious!

Good Morning Friends,

I hope this day finds you happy, healthy and prosperous.

Today's guest has visited us numerous times but please give Alicia Dean a huge, warm, WELCOME back with her latest release, Precarious, Martini Club 4 ~ The 1940s.

Boston ~ 1947
Iris Taggart should be ecstatic. She’s engaged to one of the wealthiest men in Boston, and he dotes on her. But, her marrying a rich man is her mother’s dream, not hers. Iris longs to be a nurse and care for others, and she’ll never have the career she wants if she marries a Boston Blue Blood. It just isn’t done.

Dante Morello returned from WWII a war hero, and now he’s a Boston detective working the South End Slayer case where a deranged killer is butchering the poor and homeless. Dante’s investigation leads him to reconnect with Iris—a girl he’s known most of his life—who is volunteering at the soup kitchen where the murderer finds his victims. When Dante learns Iris is in the killer’s sites, he’ll do whatever it takes to protect her, and not just because she’s woken something in his heart he thought he’d never feel.

But neither of them is prepared for how precarious life can be. When secrets are exposed, and a madman’s full intent is revealed, will their love…and their lives…be destroyed?

Excerpt:

Dante stood and rolled down his shirt sleeves, then slipped on his jacket, not bothering to straighten his tie. “Hello, Iris. Is there something I can do for you?”

“Y-yes.” She held something tightly in her fists and shoved it toward him. “I-I found this.”

He peered at the object—a woman’s scarf, which looked as though it had been dragged through a tar pit—then lifted his brows. “And?”

She drew in a deep breath, her breasts rising with the action. He forced his gaze back to her face. “I found it at the clinic.”

He shoved his hands in his pockets, waiting. He’d offer her a seat, but then she might stay all day, rambling on and on about whatever popped into her pretty head. On one hand, that sounded like the perfect way to spend his day. On the other, he had a killer to catch.

“The bastard left it there for me.” She didn’t apologize, or even flinch, at her use of the curse word. She thrust the scarf out again, and this time he took it. “Have you heard any news? Any new victims? It belongs to Alma Vernon. She’s dead, isn’t she?” The sentences fell on top of one another. Her eyes filled with tears and she shook her head. “Mercy me. I don’t understand what’s happening.”

Dante tightened his fist around the scarf, battling the rage rising inside him. “How well did you know Ms. Vernon?”

“I saw her frequently at the kitchen. Then, a few days ago, she had a seizure, and I treated her.”

“Morello!”

Shannon’s shout drew Dante’s attention away from Iris, and for a moment, he was peeved at the interruption. Although she was bearing potentially disturbing news, seeing her lovely face was a balm to his soul.

“What is it?”

“We got a report of another victim.”

“Dammit to hell.” Dante shot a look at Iris but didn’t apologize for his language. He was damned well frustrated and feeling more incompetent each day. He said to Iris, “I’m sorry. I have to go. We’ll talk later.”

She nodded. Her lovely blue eyes swam with unshed tears, and her lips trembled. He wanted to stay, to hold her and comfort her. It was obvious that the killer was either fixated on Iris, or working his way through victims until he got to her. Either option opened a cold pit of fear in his chest.

Oh, Wow! What an excerpt, Alicia! Where can we get a copy?

Precarious, along with the other books in this series - Pampered by Kathy L Wheeler, Perilous by Amanda McCabe and Priceless by Krysta Scott can be purchased at Amazon.

Find Alicia Here:

Email: Alicia@AliciaDean.com

Website: http://aliciadean.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorAliciaDean/

Twitter: @Alicia_Dean_

Instagram: AliciaDeanAuthor

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/alicia-dean

Pinterest: https://pinterest.com/aliciamdean/

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/468339.Alicia_Dean

Great! We certainly wish you and the other authors the best of luck and God's blessings with this and your other series.

Hope you enjoyed today's spotlight, friends and that you'll check back weekly for Wednesday Words with Friends and Saturday Spotlight. Be sure to leave a comment and enter into my monthly gift card giveaway.

Until next time take care, stay safe and be BLESSED!

PamT

Saturday, April 30, 2016

#SaturdaySpotlight is on Alicia Dean @Alicia_Dean_ with Two Minute Writing Tips!

Good Morning Friends,

Today's guest, Alicia Dean is no stranger to our blog but today she returns to share with us her brand new book, Two Minute Writing Tips (compiled from her weekly blog post of the same name) and her other writing book, Find the Magic (How to Plot a Story in 10 Easy Steps). So without much further ado....here's Alicia!

In today’s busy world—and writers are far busier than the average human being—there is little time for lengthy, detailed, intensive writing courses and writing manuals.

Knowing how rare and fleeting a writer’s time is, Alicia Dean posts a weekly ‘Tuesday Two-Minute’ writing tip on her blog where she shares her knowledge, experience, and wisdom in tiny, bite-sized pieces so as not to squander more than 120-second increments of a writer’s precious time.

Now, you can get those tips all in one convenient place. In simple, quick and easily digestible servings, this book shares loads of advice for writers. Tips such as…

• Recognizing and eliminating filter words that distance your reader
• Understanding Point of View – How to fix it and why
• Writing Faster Drafts
• Clearer, concise writing
• Tips for more effective Tweeting

No matter your level, from novice to experienced author, you will find something beneficial in Alicia’s handy, quick reminders.

Excerpt: ‘Began’ and ‘Started to’ Make Your Writing Inactive

Phrases like 'began to' and 'started to' show up in manuscripts more frequently than you might expect. When you really think about it, though, they do not quite work for what you're trying to convey. Plus, they are weak and inactive.

Examples:

· He started running.

· He began coughing.

· He placed his hand on the door and began to open it.

· Her legs started to tremble.

· Her heart began to race.

· She started to laugh.

When I see wording like this, I have to ask myself, these questions, and I'll admit, some strange images appear in my mind.

Did he start running but only take a few steps and pause mid-air? Did he hack out half a cough? How do you 'begin to open' a door? Did he turn the knob or pull on the door but not really open it? Did her legs give a few trembles, then go still? Did her heart speed up, then suddenly come to a halt? (OUCH!) Did she open her mouth, and laughter started to come out, then she sucked it back into her throat?

See...kind of gives you some strange visuals.

You can easily fix these to make them more active and stronger:

· He started running. - He ran.

· He began coughing. - He coughed.

· He placed his hand on the door and began to open it. - He turned the knob. Or, He pulled the door halfway open.

· Her legs started to tremble. Her legs trembled.

· Her heart began to race. Her heart raced.

· She started to laugh. She laughed.

See how simple it is? It's a good idea to go through your MS and check for phrases like this and revise them. That way, your writing is move active, more immediate. PLUS, you can give your characters the satisfaction of actually completing that cough, tremble, run, or laughter.

Two Minute Writing Tips can be purchased at Amazon and it's on $ale for a limited time at only .99¢ !!

Now here's a little about Alicia's other writing book....Find the Magic...

Using specific examples from one of my own novels, Without Mercy, I share my method in this mini how to book. The first eight steps actually deal with plotting while the last two are designed to help expand your outline into a well-developed draft. There is no one, perfect way to create a story, but there will be a method, or methods that work for you. I’m not sure if this is the one, but it works for me. Only you can decide if it also works for you. Fingers crossed that it does!

Find the Magic can be purchased at Amazon also.

Award-winning author, Alicia Dean, began writing stories as a child. At age 11, she wrote her first ever romance (featuring a hero who looked just like Elvis Presley, and who shared the name of Elvis’ character in the movie, Tickle Me), and she still has the tattered, pencil-written copy. Alicia is from Moore, Oklahoma and now lives in Edmond. She has three grown children and a huge network of supportive friends and family. She writes mostly contemporary suspense and paranormal, but has also written in other genres, including a few vintage historicals. She is a freelance editor in addition to being an editor for The Wild Rose Press.

Other than reading and writing, her passions are Elvis Presley, MLB, NFL (she usually works in a mention of one or all three into her stories) and watching (and rewatching) her favorite televisions shows like The Walking Dead, Dexter, Justified, Sons of Anarchy, Haven, Vampire Diaries, and The Originals. Some of her favorite authors are Michael Connelly, Dennis Lehane, Lee Child, Lisa Gardner, Sharon Sala, Jordan Dane, Ridley Pearson, Joseph Finder, and Jonathan Kellerman…to name a few.

Find Alicia here:

*** Sign up for our Novel Notes Newsletter, a multi-author newsletter where we give away a $25 gift card each month: https://www.facebook.com/NovelNotesAuthors

Website: http://aliciadean.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Alicia-Dean-559598754221926/

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/468339.Alicia_Dean

her website: AliciaDean.com, or feel free to drop her a line at: AliciaMDean@aol.com

Well friends, I hope you enjoyed today's spotlight.

Remember, once you've written a book and had it published, you'll have to promote it! Need help? Check out the book, Simple Promotional Tools for Authors which I wrote with my friend Penny Carlton and is available on Kindle, Nook and Smashwords.

ALSO if you're interested in learning how to write, don't forget I'm hosting a beginning writers' workshop at the Silver Spur guest ranch in Bandera, TX July 8th - 10th and I'd LOVE to see you there!

Until next time...take care and God Bless.
PamT

Saturday, March 5, 2016

#SaturdaySpotlight is on Alicia Dean @Alica_Dean_ and her book, Liberty Empowered

Good Morning Friends,

Alicia Dean is not a newcomer to our blog. She has shared Tuesday Treasures with us as well as Thursday Thoughts. Today we are spotlighting her newest release, Liberty Empowered, book 3 in her Isle of Fangs series.....

She’s striving to embrace her nature…he’s fighting to restrain his.

Vampire hunter Liberty Van Helsing is responsible for protecting the humans living on Sang Croc, a tropical island in the French Polynesia. While striving to improve her recently acquired hunting skills, Liberty wrestles with her attraction to vampire, Eli Barkley, estranged son of Rupert, leader of the Evil Ones.

Then the grandparents of a young girl—who Liberty has befriended—is snatched by the Evil Ones, and Rupert offers Liberty a deal: herself for the hostages.

Rupert is certain his son will, in turn, voluntarily trade himself to save Liberty. Liberty has a better idea. Launch a rescue into Rupert's stronghold. But first she must tap into the elusive Van Helsing strength, and convince Eli he's not like his father... not anymore.

Excerpt

An evening breeze blew in from the ocean, lifting and then lowering the target that hung between two coconut palm trees. Liberty Van Helsing drew in a deep breath and focused, repeating her new mantra, the fewer vampires you kill, the more humans that die. She had to improve as a hunter. Lives depended on it.

She shook out her shoulders, planted her feet in the sand, gripped the butt of the pistol, and narrowed her eyes on the target. She drew in a lungful of ocean air, and—

A hurtling object flashed in her peripheral just before something slammed into her shoulder. She stumbled, the gun went off—and she missed the target completely.

She lifted her upper body and rested on her elbows. "Son of a bitch!" A Frisbee lay on the beach a few feet away. She sprang to her feet, brushing sand off her jeans and whirled on Eli, who leaned nonchalantly against a palm tree. "What the hell?"

He grinned. "A little distraction."

"You threw a Frisbee at me? While I was taking aim?"

"Do you think the EO's will wait for you to settle into your stance on a hunt?"

She huffed out a breath. "Maybe not, but you could have given me a head's up."

He pushed off the tree and sauntered toward her, stopping a few inches away, his dark blond hair blowing in the wind like a tarnished halo.

Her breathing slowed, the way it did every time he came near. She squelched the urge to back away. Forcing herself to meet his glittering silver gaze, she lifted her chin.

He tightened his jaw and gritted out, "The Evil Ones aren't going to give you a head's up, Liberty. They're going to come at you, as fast and hard as they can. You have to be ready, for anything. Especially now that Rupert has called off the truce."

She shrugged, doing her best to conceal how terrified she was that the enraged leader of the EO's had a vendetta against her. "Rupert will calm down. He'll give up."

He grunted a disbelieving laugh. "You don't know Rupert. He never gives up."

"Are you afraid of him?"

"I'm not afraid for me. He might make me suffer, but he'll never kill me." A muscle ticked in his jaw, and he looked out toward the water. "But he'll come after you. He'd like nothing more than to hurt someone I lo—"

He jerked his gaze back to her with a grimace. "Someone I care about."

Love? Had he been about to say he loved her?

Liberty Empowered can be purchased at Amazon and B&N.

And check out book 1 Liberty Awakened & 2 Liberty Divided in the series....

Award-winning, multi-published author Alicia Dean began writing stories as a child. At age 11, she wrote her first ever romance (featuring a hero who looked just like Elvis Presley, and who happened to share the name of Elvis’ character in the movie, Tickle Me), and she still has the tattered, pencil-written copy. Alicia is from Moore, Oklahoma and now lives in Edmond. She has three grown children and a huge network of supportive friends and family. She writes mostly contemporary suspense and paranormal, but has also written in other genres, including a few vintage historicals. She is a freelance editor in addition to being an editor for The Wild Rose Press.

Other than reading and writing, her passions are Elvis Presley, MLB, NFL (she usually works in a mention of one or all three into her stories) and watching her favorite televisions shows like Vampire Diaries, Justified, Sons of Anarchy, Haven, New Girl, The Mindy Project, and Dexter (even though it has sadly ended, she will forever be a fan). Some of her favorite authors are Michael Connelly, Dennis Lehane, Lee Child, Lisa Gardner, Sharon Sala, Jordan Dane, Ridley Pearson, Joseph Finder, and Jonathan Kellerman…to name a few.

Find Alicia here:

*** Sign up for our Novel Notes Newsletter, a multi-author newsletter where we give away a $25 gift card each month: https://www.facebook.com/NovelNotesAuthors

Website: http://aliciadean.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100008364070487

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/468339.Alicia_Dean

Hope you enjoyed today's spotlights. Check back weekly for Tuesday Treasures, Thursday Thoughts and more Sat. Spotlights!

Until next time, take care and God bless.
PamT

Thursday, January 21, 2016

#ThursdayThoughts: Guest post by Alicia Dean

Good Morning Friends and a Beautiful day it is!

Yes, no matter what you're going through or the weather is like, it is a beautiful day.

Why?

Because it is the day the Lord has made and if you do your level best to rejoice and be glad, He will honor that and you will feel better.

Honest.

Works for me anyway and I pray it works for you as well.

Today's guest, Alicia Dean is no stranger to our blog. She visited in October 2014, January 2015 and October 2015. Today Alicia returns with a something to think about and a brand new book!

So without further ado.....here she is.....

Do You Have a Dream?

Did you have a dream when you were younger? Something that fired your passion and made you feel whole and alive? Did you pursue it? Why not?

When I was a child and was first exposed to the adventures of Pippi Longstocking and the antics of Amelia Bedelia, I was hooked on reading. I was probably 10 or 11 when my interests turned to Harlequin Romances. Yes, a bit young to be reading them, but they captivated me (and back then, they were very PG, so no harm, no foul). At some point, my own stories started coming to life in my imagination and my dream to become a writer took hold. I wrote my first romance at eleven years old. I described my hero as looking like Elvis. I worked in an Elvis song and titled the story after the song, “Just Pretend.” I named my hero Dr. Lonnie Beale (Lonnie Beale was Elvis’ name in the movie Tickle Me - My dream was also to marry Elvis, but that didn’t quite work out). I still have that story, although it could use some serious edits.

Here are a few pages:

As I grew older I continued to plan and dream. When I was in high school, for the yearbook, the seniors were all asked the question, “What will you be doing in the year 2000?” This was 1980, and 2000 seemed like some kind of distant future Space Odyssey thing. I answered, “In the year 2000, I will be a best-selling author.”

My quote made it into the yearbook, and I still have the yearbook. (I didn’t become a best-selling, or even a published author by 2000, if you’re keeping score).

After graduation, I fooled around with writing, took a few courses, but ended up getting married and having children and putting my dreams on hold, although they never left my thoughts. In 2001, I took a writing class with Mel Odom and met some writing friends who are still my friends today. My desire and ambition was renewed. I began to focus on writing, and my publication dreams were realized with my first release in 2007, Nothing to Fear, a romantic suspense published with The Wild Rose Press. Since then, there have been around 24 more published stories (and counting).

So, while I didn’t become a best-selling author, I did realize my dream of being a writer. I love writing, and writing and/or finishing a book brings me a ton of satisfaction and elation. I know several people who have no goals, no interests that fuel their spirit, no dreams. I can’t imagine what that would be like. What would I do with my time if I weren’t immersed in the writing world? I have no clue.

There are very few things in life as fulfilling and joyful as making your dreams a reality, so what’s stopping you?

What a wonderful testimony, Alicia and definitely something to think about friends!

Alicia Dean lives in Edmond, Oklahoma. She writes mostly contemporary suspense and paranormal, but has also written in other genres, including a few vintage historicals.

Other than reading and writing, her passions are Elvis Presley, MLB, NFL (she usually works in a mention of one or all three into her stories) and watching her favorite televisions shows like Vampire Diaries, Justified, Sons of Anarchy, Haven, The Mindy Project, and Dexter (even though it has sadly ended, she will forever be a fan). Some of her favorite authors are Michael Connelly, Dennis Lehane, Lee Child, Lisa Gardner, Sharon Sala, Jordan Dane, Ridley Pearson, Joseph Finder, and Jonathan Kellerman…to name a few.

Find out more about Alicia by visiting her Website and/or blog and connect with her on Facebook, Twitter,@Alicia_Dean_ Pinterest and Goodreads

Oh and, sign up for the Novel Notes Newsletter, a multi-author newsletter where we give away a $25 gift card each month!

Alicia's new book, Liberty Empowered can be purchased at Amazon and B&N

Here's the Blurb: Vampire hunter Liberty Van Helsing is responsible for protecting the humans living on Sang Croc, a tropical island in the French Polynesia. While striving to improve her recently acquired hunting skills, Liberty wrestles with her attraction to vampire, Eli Barkley, estranged son of Rupert, leader of the Evil Ones.

Then the grandparents of a young girl—who Liberty has befriended—is snatched by the Evil Ones, and Rupert offers Liberty a deal: herself for the hostages.

Rupert is certain his son will, in turn, voluntarily trade himself to save Liberty. Liberty has a better idea. Launch a rescue into Rupert's stronghold. But first she must tap into the elusive Van Helsing strength, and convince Eli he's not like his father... not anymore.

Well friends, hope you enjoyed today's Thursday Thoughts!

Check back weekly for Saturday Spotlight, Tuesday Treasures and more Thursday Thoughts. Remember too, Egg-cerpt Exchange begins Feb 1st!

Until next time...take care and God Bless.

PamT

Tuesday, October 13, 2015

#TuesdayTreasure with Alicia Dean & Leah StJames

Good Morning Friends,

I'm pleased to bring you special guests Leah St. James & Alicia Dean. Both have stories in Mysteries of the Macabre: An Anthology of 6 Short Stories by 6 Authors. I'll share their blurbs with you but for now, let's see what each treasures.....

Leah St. James:
Like many, when I think of the treasures in my life, my family comes to mind, then friends. The “old” ones first—those who know all my deepest and most embarrassing secrets, and will take them to the grave. Then I think of my new friends, those I wouldn’t have met without a certain twist or turn in my life. And then there are those new friends whose introduction into my life was the driving force behind those twists and turns.

Alicia Dean is one such treasure.

I met her in 2009...if you can “meet” someone via email. I had submitted my first novel, Surrender to Sanctuary, to The Wild Rose Press (on the recommendation of another friend). I didn’t expect it to be contracted – there were some “twists and turns” in the story that I suspected wouldn’t fly. Alicia was assigned to review my story, and when she accepted it (with a few much-needed revision), my life took one of those turns I never thought I’d take.

In fact, I wouldn’t be writing this blog if she hadn’t stepped into my life. By the time she contracted the book, I was in a new (very demanding) full-time job, and writing fiction was about as far from my thoughts as bungee jumping (which is still, by the way, far from my thoughts). :-)

Since then I’ve continued to write (albeit slowly) and have joined Alicia in a number of projects to help us meet readers. She has become my editor for my other writing (and I say “my” with more than a hint of the proprietary!) :-) I have been blessed.

Bio: Leah is a worrier, a self-described neurotic who tends to imagine the worst-case scenario in response to brewing troubles. She hasn’t decided if this leaning toward the dark side is what draws her to write edgy, gritty stories, or if the suspenseful mysteries and Gothic romances that filled her childhood bookshelves somehow imprinted their shadows on her psyche. Despite (or maybe because of) this propensity for infusing her fiction with murder and mayhem, she still craves those happily-ever-after endings and the romance of everlasting love.

You can read more about Leah at www.leahstjames.com

Connect with Leah on Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest.

Alicia Dean:
While I deeply treasure my face to face friends, I equally treasure my virtual friends. It’s strange how connected you can feel to someone you only know online. The authors I have ‘met’ since I began editing and pursuing my writing dream are some of the most supportive, kind people I know. Leah St. James is one of those authors. When I read her submission to The Wild Rose Press in 2009, I was blown away by her story and her writing. The manuscript needed some changes before I could offer a contract, and I was afraid she wouldn’t want to work with me. But, fortunately, she was open to my suggestions and we published her amazing book together. (Part of the suggestions had to do with the BDSM lifestyle of some of the characters. While it was not an erotic story, those elements were present. I’ll let you in on a little secret, Leah did such an excellent job with the research and writing, I wondered if SHE was into BDSM. It turns out, she wasn’t. J)

As the years went by, we stayed in touch. Leah has been a godsend in so many ways. In spite of her busy, high pressure job, she has always found time to help me out with anything I’ve needed, whether it’s providing a review or author quote, judging a contest, helping with a blurb, promo, etc. And, ironically, we’ve more or less done a 180. She owns a publishing company and I submitted to her. Thankfully, she accepted, and now, she’s MY publisher/editor.

Regardless of the dynamics of our relationship, I am truly, truly blessed to have met Leah. I just hope she finds a way to churn out more of those fabulous stories she writes. They are indeed a treasure.

I live in Edmond, Oklahoma. I have three grown children and a huge network of supportive friends and family. I write mostly contemporary suspense and paranormal, but have also written in other genres, including a few vintage historicals.

Other than reading and writing, my passions are Elvis Presley, MLB, NFL (I usually work in a mention of one or all three into my stories) and watching my favorite televisions shows like Vampire Diaries, Justified, Sons of Anarchy, Haven, New Girl, The Mindy Project, and Dexter (Yes, I know some have ended, but I will forever be a fan). Some of my favorite authors are Michael Connelly, Dennis Lehane, Lee Child, Lisa Gardner, Sharon Sala, Jordan Dane, Ridley Pearson, Joseph Finder, and Jonathan Kellerman…to name a few.

Find me here:

Website: http://aliciadean.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100008364070487

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/468339.Alicia_Dean

**********

Wow, sounds like the mutual admiration society LOL! Seriously though, I know both of these ladies and they are terrific human beings! It is amazing the way a working relationship can flourish into a wonderful friendship and how God can bring people together through writing and stories who might never meet otherwise.

Now about Leah & Alicia's stories and this anthology....

Six short stories -- some sweet romance, some steamy romance, some suspense. Throw in teen angst, adults behaving badly, and ghostly appearances. What could be more fun?

Celebrate Halloween this year with MYSTERIES OF THE MACABRE, six brand-new stories by authors who know how to get the pulses racing, one way or another.

Leah St. James – Blood Moon

Suspense/Paranormal

One Halloween night, a killer terrorized a strip of Virginia beachfront, murdering a dozen young women whose only crime was walking the beach with a boyfriend. Now, fifty years later, book reviewer Ronnie can’t shake the feeling that another has come to take his place.

Is it nothing more than her vivid imagination running wild, or are the spirits stirring, warning of approaching danger?

Alicia Dean ~ Scarred

Gothic Romance

Sometimes, the most haunting scars are the ones beneath the skin.

When Natalie Jayne moved away from her home town ten years earlier, she left behind painful memories, along with Simon, the man she loved. Now, she's back on Halloween night to attend a memorial marking the one-year anniversary of the tragic passing of her childhood friend, Jessica. Rumors that Simon was responsible for Jessica's death unnerve her. Even more disturbing is her unsettling attraction to a masked stranger she meets at the event. Her gift may be the key to unlocking the truth, but will it also lead to heartbreak?

MYSTERIES OF THE MACABRE can be found at Amazon in paperback and on Kindle

Hope you enjoyed today's treasures as much as I do!

Until next time take care, be blessed and remember to....Ask(in trust)~Believe(with faith & passion)~Receive(with gratitude)~Share the blessing

PamT

Thursday, January 8, 2015

#ThursdayThoughts: Guest Post by Alicia Dean

Hello Again and Welcome!

Today we welcome Alicia Dean to Thursday Thoughts as she talks about Living in the Fifties....

Born in 1961, I barely missed out on living in the 50’s. I’ve always been fascinated by that decade, and while I can’t say I would want to be even older than I am now, I would have loved to be a teen back then. I know it wasn’t quite as picture perfect as shows like Leave it to Beaver and Make Room for Daddy would lead us to believe, but still, in this hectic, hustle bustle, violent, hate-filled, crazy world we’re living in today, wouldn’t you like to get a little taste of the peace and simplicity of life back then?

Yes, there were some imperfections sixty years ago, some things that needed to be fixed. The civil rights movement was necessary and came none too soon. And women were not treated as equals, and most were expected to stay home and raise kids and run the household, but the women who wanted to did have careers. Granted, they did not have the same opportunities as men. Cause yeah, not everything was perfect. However, if you’ve watched very many Leave it to Beaver episodes, you’ll see that June was often the final decision maker. She might have been a housewife, but she was a strong and intelligent woman, and Ward seemed to respect her a great deal.

In spite of its flaws, overall, the decade of the 50’s was much more desirable than the world we’re living in today. Sure, we’ve come a long way, but sometimes I think we’ve gone just a little too far. Pardon me if the idea of sock hops, poodle skirts, soda fountains, low crime rates, and respect for your country and your fellow man holds a certain nostalgic appeal.

For me, one of the main appeals of that time is that Elvis Presley burst onto the scene. I can’t imagine being around to actually see it happen. I’ve always wondered how I would have felt if I’d been a teen in 1954 when he started, or 1956 when he shot to fame. I assume I still would have been an avid EP fan. Would I have had a chance to see him in concert? What would have been my favorite song, if I had heard his unique brand of rock and roll before I’d been exposed to other kinds of music? Short of discovering some kind of time machine, I suppose I’ll never know. But it is fun to think about. J

Because of my fascination with the era, and my love for Elvis, I wrote a Vintage Romance set in 1957. Even in my story, things aren’t exactly perfect. If they were, it wouldn’t be a very interesting story, would it? I’m pleased that The Wild Rose Press released my story today, January 8, on what would have been Elvis’ 80^th birthday. As you probably figured out, I took the title from a line in Heartbreak Hotel, which was Elvis’ first million selling record.

Check out End of Lonely Street and enter to win GREAT prizes…

A Rafflecopter GIVEAWAY: - Entries accepted from January 8, 2015 through noon on January 22, 2015

Three prizes –

Elvis Gift Basket including DVD, CD, plus more

$25 Amazon Gift Card

$10 Amazon Gift Card

First place winner has first choice, second place winner has second choice, third place winner receives remaining prize.

Can she let go of the past, before it destroys her future?

All Toby Lawson wanted was to go to college to pursue her dream of becoming a teacher and to be free of her alcoholic mother and the painful memories of finding her and the guy Toby loved kissing. But when her mother nearly burns the house down, Toby must put her dreams on hold and return home to care for her. The only time she isn’t lonely and miserable is when she’s listening to her heartthrob, Elvis Presley. His music takes her away, helps her escape from everything wrong in her life.

Noah Rivers has always loved Toby, but no matter what he says, and even though she knows her mother initiated the kiss, and that he didn’t kiss her back, she can‘t seem to get past what happened. He soon realizes that the true problem lies in Toby’s belief that she’s not good enough for him and in her fear that she will be just like her mother.

What will it take to prove to her that she deserves to be happy, and that he would give anything to be the man to make her dreams come true?

Excerpt:

Chapter One

Mapleton, Tennessee, November, 1957

Toby Lawson closed her eyes and shut out all sounds of the diner, except for Elvis Presley’s voice. He was crooning about how she was the only one for him…no matter where he went or what he did… he’d spend his whole life loving her…

Rough hands landed on her waist and shattered the fantasy. She caught a whiff of hair tonic and too much cologne, and she snapped her eyes open. Wes Markham’s hateful face replaced the image of Elvis’ beautiful, crooked smile and smoldering blue eyes.

“Let me go.” She gritted her teeth, keeping her voice low. If her boss, Mr. Winstead, knew there was trouble on account of her, he’d explode. He’d barely let her have the job in the first place. Everyone in Mapleton knew the Lawson women were trouble.

“Come on, honey. If you like that hip swivel, Presley ain’t the only one who’s got it. I got it too.” He released her with his left hand so he could run it over his slicked down hair and gave her a big-toothed, wolfish smile. “Only we’d be naked.” He shot a cocky grin over to his two companions—Chuck Stenson and Billy Garfield—who were leaning against the jukebox making kissing and whooping sounds.

Toby gripped his right wrist with one hand, tightening her hold on the utensils she held in the other. “I said let me go. Now!”

“Aw, be a sport, Green-Eyes.”

The bulge of his pelvis pressed into her abdomen, and she gasped in shock. Nausea tightened in her esophagus. “Wes Markham, I’m warning you…”

She shoved against him, but he didn’t budge.

He pulled her tighter. “Your momma’s a whole lot friendlier than you are. They say the apple don’t fall far from the tree, so how’s about you cut the pretense and we go someplace quiet? Winstead won’t miss you for a few minutes.”

Her cheeks heated. She didn’t dare look around. No doubt the customers were watching, listening. Elvis had stopped singing and everyone in the place could hear what he’d said about her mother. It wasn’t like they didn’t all know, though. Constance Lawson hadn’t exactly kept her escapades a secret.

Toby clenched her teeth and brandished the utensils. She spoke loud enough for everyone to hear. “Release me this instant, or I swear, you’ll be pulling this steak knife out of your eyeball.”

He held her gaze for a split second, then gave a laugh that was somewhere between nervous and furious. “Sure, sure. Okay.” He released her and stepped back. “I was just foolin’ around anyway. I got better things to do with my time than waste it on a used up chick like you.”

Muffled laughter rose around her. Oh God, she could crawl into a hole.

“How about you apologize to the lady, then beat it?”

Toby whirled at the male voice. Noah Rivers stood behind her, looking handsome and sharp in his police uniform—even with his dark hair in the military buzz cut. Her knees weakened, and tingles swept over her skin. She swallowed against the sudden dryness in her throat. She’d heard he was back, but hadn’t seen him until now. And what a time to have a reunion.

*** 10% of all of Alicia Dean’s net royalties for End of Lonely Street will go to

The Elvis Presley Charitable Foundation http://www.graceland.com/epcf/ ***

Alicia Dean lives in Edmond, Oklahoma. She has three grown children and a huge network of supportive friends and family. She writes mostly contemporary suspense and paranormal, but has also written in other genres, including a few vintage historicals.

Other than reading and writing, her passions are Elvis Presley, MLB, NFL (she usually works in a mention of one or all three into her stories) and watching her favorite televisions shows like Vampire Diaries, Justified, Sons of Anarchy, Haven, The Mindy Project, and Dexter (even though it has sadly ended, she will forever be a fan). Some of her favorite authors are Michael Connelly, Dennis Lehane, Lee Child, Lisa Gardner, Sharon Sala, Jordan Dane, Ridley Pearson, Joseph Finder, and Jonathan Kellerman…to name a few.
Find Alicia here:

Website: http://aliciadean.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100008364070487