#SaturdaySpotlight is on Alicia Dean & Wick’ed Ways

Good Morning and Welcome Back to Another Edition of Saturday Spotlight. Today we have a returning author with her latest release. 

Thanks for joining us, Alicia! Please tell us more about writing Wick'ed Ways...

 Always a pleasure to visit your blog Pam!

Most of my stories tend to live on the darker side of fiction. I write suspense and horror, where the danger is real, the villains can be downright depraved, and I don’t necessarily shy away from a little bloodshed.

So naturally, I decided to write a cozy mystery about a candle shop.

Okay, maybe it wasn’t quite that simple.

I was invited to join the Mystery on Lilac Lane series, a collection of cozy mysteries all set in the fictional town of Wisteria, Wisconsin. I loved the concept and jumped at the opportunity—even though writing a traditional cozy meant reining in some of my darker instincts. Creating murder and mayhem without getting too graphic turned out to be both a challenge and a lot of fun.

The shared-world aspect presented another interesting challenge. Because all the books take place in Wisteria, each author needed to choose a different business or occupation for her main character. Many of the obvious choices were already taken, so I chose a candle shop.

There was just one problem.

I knew absolutely nothing about making candles.

That meant research—and lots of it. Before long, Lotus and Lights began to take shape, complete with signature scents, creative displays, and a relaxation room that seemed like a wonderful addition to the shop.

Naturally, I put a dead body in it.

Writing Wick’ed Ways also meant sharing certain characters and locations with the other authors. Wisteria’s mayor, police department, and other familiar faces appear throughout the series, giving readers the fun of revisiting the same town while experiencing a completely new mystery with each book.

For me, Wick’ed Ways was a chance to step outside my usual dark and dangerous world without giving up murder entirely. After all, a cozy little candle shop is lovely.

But it’s even more interesting when someone turns up dead.

Of course, LOL! Now please share your blurb, an excerpt and how readers can find you...

Here you go...

In quaint Wisteria, Wisconsin, opening a candle shop was supposed to be Paget Ross’s fresh start.
Instead, she’s become the prime suspect in a small-town murder.

After a bitter divorce, Paget leaves Oklahoma behind and buys Lotus and Lights, a struggling candle shop in the charming town of Wisteria. With creative new ideas, signature scents, and plenty of determination, she quickly turns the cozy little store into a local success.

But when a body is discovered inside her shop’s relaxation room, Paget’s new beginning goes up in smoke.

As whispers spread, suspicion grows, and another murder rocks the town, Paget realizes someone is targeting people connected to the shop—and she may be next.

To clear her name, Paget must uncover buried secrets, outsmart a killer, and expose the truth before the next flame that burns out is hers.

Perfect for fans of cozy mysteries, small-town whodunits, amateur sleuths, and charming shops hiding deadly secrets.

Excerpt: Paget glanced at the clock, realizing that Marco’s hour was almost up. Brooke had left fifteen minutes ago, her shift ending at five. Paget was on her own until they closed at eight.

A customer approached, asking about citrus blends, and Paget focused on helping her—explaining scent layering, recommending options, wrapping a purchase. By the time the transaction was complete, the timer went off.

She stepped out from behind the counter and moved down the hallway, stopping at the door of Scents and Solitude. She knocked lightly. “Marco?” she called. “Time’s up.”

No response.

She frowned.

Maybe he’d fallen asleep. It wouldn’t be the first time someone had done that. But the buzzer went off in the room. Surely that would have woken him.

She knocked again, a little louder. “Marco?”

Still nothing. A small thread of unease wound through her. She reached for the handle and opened the door. “Marco, I just wanted to—”

The words died in her throat.

The room was exactly as she’d left it. Muted light. Gentle music. The candle still flickering steadily.

Marco lay in the recliner. Perfectly still.

At first, her mind tried to make it normal. He’s asleep. That’s all. But something was wrong. Deeply, unmistakably wrong.

At ten years old, Alicia Dean wrote her first romance, starring a hero who looked just like Elvis Presley (which is how she actually described him in the story), and she still has the tattered, pencil-written manuscript—proof that storytelling has been in her blood from the beginning.

With a passion for all things dark and mysterious, Alicia is drawn to scary movies, chilling stories, and true crime, influences that often find their way into her fiction. When she’s not writing, she’s likely listening to Elvis, watching her favorite television shows and/or MLB or NFL games, depending on the season, or plotting her next creepy tale.

Alicia lives in Oklahoma, where she writes stories filled with suspense, secrets, and murder. 

Find Alicia Here: https://linktr.ee/AliciaDeanAuthor1835

Get your copy of Wick'ed Ways at Amazon. Wick'ed Ways is part of the Mystery on Lilac Lane series. Find them HERE.

Check out Alicia's previous visits HERE.

Hope you enjoyed today's spotlight friends and that you'll check back weekly for another great author and his/her books!

Until then, take care, God Bless and read happy!

PamT

#SaturdaySpotlight is on DiAnn Mills @diannmills & Concrete Evidence!

Good Morning,

Well, Kyleigh's Cowboy is uploaded to and available for pre-order at almost all of my Ebook retail sites. Ten days from now you'll be able to read it in its entirety. The paperback version will be available then too. I've been sharing excerpts on several friends's blogs and newsletters. If you want to get these peeks into the story check'em out! Jacqueline Seewald, Clare Revell, Kara O'Neal, Stacey Weeks and Alicia Dean. 

Enough about me.

Today's guest is not new to our blog so please welcome, DiAnn Mills back with her new release, Concrete Evidence!

On the family’s Brazos River Ranch in Texas, Avery Elliott helps run her grandfather’s commercial construction business. Raised by Senator Elliott, Avery has never doubted her grandfather is the man of integrity and faith she’s always believed him to be …. until the day she finds him standing with a gun over the body of a dead man. To make matters worse, Avery’ just discovered a billing discrepancy for materials supposedly purchased for construction of the Lago de Cobre Dam.

 

Desperate for answers, Avery contacts FBI Special Agent Marc Wilkins for help. As Marc works to identify the dead man Avery saw, threats toward Avery create a fresh sense of urgency to pinpoint why someone wants to silence her. With a hurricane approaching the Texas coast and the structural integrity of the Lago de Cobre Dam called into question, time is running out to get to the bottom of a sinister plot that could be endangering the lives of not only Avery and her loved ones but the entire community.

Read an Excerpt HERE.

Get your copy of Concrete Evidence HERE or where all great Christian fiction is sold!

DiAnn Mills is a bestselling author who believes her readers should expect an adventure. She is a storyteller and creates action-packed, suspense-filled novels to thrill readers. Her titles have appeared on the CBA and ECPA bestseller lists; won two Christy Awards; and been finalists for the RITA, Daphne Du Maurier, Inspirational Readers’ Choice, and Carol award contests. 

DiAnn is a founding board member of the American Christian Fiction Writers, a member of Advanced Writers and Speakers Association, Mystery Writers of America, Sisters in Crime, and International Thriller Writers. DiAnn continues her passion for helping other writers be successful. She speaks to various groups and teaches writing workshops around the country. 

Connect with DiAnn on her various social media platforms here: www.diannmills.com

Check out DiAnn's previous visits and books HERE.

Oh, Wow, DiAnn! CONGRATS on your new release! We certainly wish you the best of luck and God's blessings with it.

Hope you enjoyed our spotlight today, Friends and you'll check back next week for another edition of Wednesday Words with Friends and Saturday Spotlight.

Until next time, take care and God bless.

PamT

#WednesdayWordswithFriends Welcomes Alicia Dean @Alicia_Dean_ !!

Good Morning Friends and a Blessed Day to you ALL!

Tomorrow I'm heading out for a camping trip. We'd planned on going up to the lake in March/April until this Covid crap shut the parks down. They re-opened last week so off we go. Never fear though, Saturday Spotlight will still go on.

Today's guest has visited with us often in the past, so please welcome Alica Dean back as she shares some words with us on family relationships.....

This past weekend, I was in Grand Prairie, Texas visiting my daughter (Lacey) who moved there over a year ago. The weekend was extra special because my other daughter (Lana) and my son (Presley) were there as well. I rented an Airbnb, and my son stayed with me. My middle child, the one who lives in Texas, hung out with us all weekend. My eldest daughter was only there for the evening on Saturday.

Want to know what was so special about it? (Besides the fact that it rained all weekend, which is perfect weather in my opinion, and my children feel the same…yes, we are odd. LOL!) My oldest and youngest child have been estranged from my middle child, and we hadn’t all four been together in at least a few years. Lacey is an addict. She’s thirty-four, and we have been through hell as a family because of her struggle with addiction. Thank God, she is clean now. Has been for just over a year. It took some time for her brother and sister to come around. They were afraid to trust that she’d really changed. I can understand that. She’d manipulated us so many times before, and we ended up having our trust betrayed, over and over. As a mom, I could never turn my back on her. I tried to practice tough love from time to time, but I couldn’t really release her to the wilds and take a chance on her ending up dead in the streets. It was difficult, but I’m glad I hung in there. There was a time I thought I’d lost her, but she’s good now. All three of my kids are good now. I heard a saying a while back… 

“A mother is only as happy as her unhappiest child.” I don’t believe I’ve ever heard a truer statement.

If you’re going through something similar, don’t give up hope. But please don’t enable, either. I’m afraid I did my fair share of that, which likely only prolonged her drug usage. An addict or an alcoholic usually will not get help until they’ve reached rock bottom. It sounds like a cliché, but it’s so true. It takes literally having no other choice and them knowing they will die if they don’t get clean and sober. If you are going through this, I’m sorry. Stay strong and, if you believe in prayer, pray. There is always hope. This is a pic of my three children, but not from this weekend. I didn’t even think to take pictures, but I wish I had. I’ll be sure to take some next time. :-)

Alicia Dean began writing stories as a child. At age 10, 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. 

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 Ozark, The Walking Dead, Dexter, Justified, Sons of Anarchy, Haven, Vampire Diaries, and The Originals. Some of her favorite authors are Michael Connelly, Dennis Lehane, Stephen King, Lee Child, Lisa Gardner, Ridley Pearson, Joseph Finder, and Jonathan Kellerman…to name a few.

Find Alicia Here:

Email: Alicia@AliciaDean.com

Website: http://aliciadean.com/

Blog: http://aliciadean.com/alicias-blog/

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

#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.

Alicia Dean began writing stories as a child. At age 10, 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. 

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 Ozark, The Walking Dead, Dexter, Justified, Sons of Anarchy, Haven, Vampire Diaries, and The Originals. Some of her favorite authors are Michael Connelly, Dennis Lehane, Stephen King, Lee Child, Lisa Gardner, Ridley Pearson, Joseph Finder, and Jonathan Kellerman…to name a few.

Find Alicia Here:

Email: Alicia@AliciaDean.com

Website: http://aliciadean.com/

Blog: http://aliciadean.com/alicias-blog/

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

#ThursdayThoughts - Special Spotlight on Alicia Dean & A World of Gothic!

Good Morning!

It's always a pleasure to welcome Alicia Dean to my blog and today is no exception. Instead of a 'normal' Thursday Thoughts post, we're spotlighting A World of Gothic…Gothic Mystery Novellas ON SALE for ONLY 99 cents each through Halloween!

A group of authors from countries all over the world were drawn together by our love of the classic gothic mysteries by authors such as Daphne du Maurier, Victoria Holt and Phyllis A. Whitney.  While the stories are stand-alone, they each share a recurring thread of a Spinel stone, which can play a small or large part in the plot. We have stories set in Scotland, Greece, Oklahoma, Florida, France, Ireland, and more.  We hope readers have as much fun reading these stories (we recommend you do so with the lights on) as we had writing them.

Dark Hunt ~ A World of Gothic: Florida by Tamrie Foxtail https://www.amazon.com/Dark-Hunt-Florida-World-Gothic-ebook/dp/B078MPBXVT/  

Ghost in the Rain ~ A World of Gothic: Scotland by Marie Treanor  https://amzn.com/B01ES21KZE

House at the Edge ~ A World of Gothic: Greece by MM Jaye: https://amzn.com/B01G7B1FI6 

Haunting at Spook Light Inn ~ A World of Gothic: Oklahoma by Alicia Dean https://amzn.com/B01GNGTU96

Haunting in the Pines ~ A World of Gothic: East Texas by Janis Susan May  https://www.amazon.com/House-Pines-World-Gothic-Texas-ebook/dp/B01JSYOHFC/  

Raven of Blackthorn Manor ~ A World of Gothic: Ireland by Gemma Juliana https://www.amazon.com/Raven-Blackthorn-Manor-Gothic-Ireland-ebook/dp/B01LRXCILW/

Blood-Stained Memories ~ A World of Gothic: Florida by Kathy L Wheeler https://www.amazon.com/Blood-Stained-Memories-Gothic-United-ebook/dp/B01K82OKJG/

Sea of Darkness ~ A World of Gothic: France by Amanda McCabe https://www.amazon.com/Sea-Darkness-World-Gothic-France-ebook/dp/B01LWKXVO6/

Shadows and Lies ~ A World of Gothic: Louisiana by Raine English https://www.amazon.com/Shadows-Lies-Gothic-United-States-ebook/dp/B01M9BY010/

Sinister Ceremony ~ A World of Gothic: Maine by Stacey Coverstone https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07HRZ2KZ2/ 

If you love Halloween and Gothic stories, you can get your fill with these!

Hope you enjoyed the post and that you'll check back frequently for Tuesday Treasures, Thursday Thoughts and Saturday Spotlight.

Until next time, take care and God Bless.
PamT

#SaturdaySpotlight RaffleCopter giveaway & blog tour for The Inheritance (2nd edition)

Good Morning Friends,

I am SO excited to share with you that the new edition of The Inheritance is available now! I mentioned back in June the book would be coming soon and shared with you the new cover, but today I'd like to tell you about the upcoming blog tour and Rafflecopter Giveaway for The Inheritance.

Beginning Monday (25th) through October 25th you'll have multiple chances to win one of 5 pdf copies of The Inheritance. Details Below:

9/25 Clare Revell https://telscha.blogspot.com/2017/09/the-inheritance-pamela-thibodeaux.html

9/28 Alicia Dean https://aliciadean.com/alicias-blog/

9/30 Krissie Fortune http://kryssiefortune.blogspot.co.uk

10/3 Alina K Field http://alinakfield.com/spotlight-on-the-inheritance-by-pamela-thibodeaux-and-a-giveaway/

10/6 Christina Lorenzen http://christinalorenzen.com/thereisnoplacelikehome/

10/9 Vicki Batman https://vickibatman.blogspot.com/2017/10/handbag-and-book-w-pamela-thibodeaux.html

10/11 Connie Bretes http://www.constancebretes.com/connies-blog

10/13 Diana Rubino http://dianarubinoauthor.blogspot.com/

10/16 Patricia Kiyono https://fourfoxesonehound.wordpress.com/2017/10/16/guest-author-pamela-s-thibodeaux  

AND https://creative-hodgepodge.blogspot.com/2017/10/blog-tour-inheritance-by-pamela-s.html

10/18 Joy Dent https://joygriffindent.wordpress.com/?p=2694

10/20 Paula Mowery http://paulamowery.blogspot.com/

10/23 Kathryn Bain https://kathrynjbain.com/

10/25 Veronica Lynch www.WildWomenAuthorsx2.blogspot.com

After her husband’s death she discovers a future she never expected and a family she never imagined.

Blurb: Widowed at age thirty-nine and suffering from empty nest syndrome, Rebecca Sinclair is overshadowed by grief and loneliness.  Her husband has been deceased for a year, her oldest child has moved to New York in pursuit of an acting career and her youngest child is attending college in France. Having spent over half of her life as a wife and mother, she has no idea what God has in store for her now.  Will an unexpected inheritance in the wine country of New York bring meaning and purpose to her life and give her the courage to love again? 

US Postal worker Raymond Jacobey has been in love with the little widow since he first set eyes on her.  A wanderer searching for the ever-illusive soul mate, Ray has never stayed in one place too long. Raised by self-centered, high-power executives, he’s longed for the idyllic life of residing in a cozy house in a small town with the love of his life. Will he gain the heart of the lovely widow or will he lose her to the wine country of New York?   

Hope you'll join the fun and visit the different blogs and that you'll drop by here, each week for Tuesday Treasures, Thursday Thoughts and Saturday Spotlight!

Until next time take care and God Bless.
PamT

#ThursdayThoughts MyAHA Featured Author, Alicia Dean!

Good Morning!

Well we're back to balmy weather here in SW Louisiana but you won't hear me complain! Last weekend's FREEZING temperatures are not my favorite. Alas if you don't like the weather in Louisiana just wait a minute (or day or two) it'll change LOL!

Today's guest is no stranger to our blog. Alicia Dean has shared treasures and thoughts and been in the spotlight before, but today she visits us as AHA's Featured Author!

Step back into the days of the classic Gothic Mystery romances like “The Shivering Sands” by Victoria Holt, “Rebecca” by Daphne du Maurier and “Hunter’s Green” by Phyllis A. Whitney.

A new series from authors all over the world features novellas in the style of these old-time stories. Check out the “A World of Gothic” series here:
https://www.facebook.com/AWorldofGothicSeries/

Our gothic series includes authors from, and stories set in, Scotland, Greece, Ireland, Texas, Florida, France, Louisiana, and Oklahoma, which is where mine is set. My contribution to the series is titled “Haunting at Spook Light Inn” and is based on an actual spook light phenomenon that appears in Northeastern Oklahoma, only a few miles from where my sister and brother-in-law live.

To help with researching the book, I took a road trip to the area with my friends, Kathy and Krysta. My sister Ruth drove us out to ‘spook light road.’ We didn’t see the light, (Well, Kathy and I thought we saw it, but we’re not sure. And the two naysayers with us claim we didn’t, so I guess I’ll say we didn’t…), but we had a good time, and it was helpful for getting a feel for my story.

*** Many of the stories, including Haunting at Spook Light Inn, are on sale for only 99 cents each!

Blurb:

Amidst a blizzard, paranormal debunker Camille Burditt arrives at Devil’s Promenade in Oklahoma to research a supernatural 'spook light' phenomenon for her latest book. There she encounters a ghostly being, which she dismisses as a figment of her imagination. But as the apparition becomes too persistent to deny, Camille realizes the woman’s ghost is quite real—and that her demise was not accidental.

Declan Rush—the inhospitable, reclusive owner of the inn where Camille is staying—is linked to the deceased woman, but he is less than forthcoming. Despite his unfriendliness, Camille is oddly drawn to him, even though she suspects his connection to the spirit might be that of killer to victim.

When another suspicious death occurs, Camille intensifies her investigation. She has precious little time to ferret out the truth. Not only is her book deadline looming—she's desperate to discover if the man she’s falling for is a murderer.

Excerpt:

Right at ten p.m., I put on my coat, boots, scarf and gloves then pulled open the front door. I went around back and keyed in the code to the garage door. The door slid open, and I climbed into a golf cart. I headed down the drive, appreciative of the thick plastic that somewhat blocked the wind. Even with the protection, I was chilled by the time I reached the road.

I parked on the shoulder and snuggled into my coat. Above me, ice-coated tree limbs drooped heavily. A howl rose in the distance. I looked around but saw nothing. Of course, coyotes and mountain lions were sneaky. They wouldn’t be parading around in plain view. From what I’d read, they kept mostly away from civilization. Even though this area was hardly what I’d call civilized, it wasn’t the wilderness either. I was certain whatever had made that sound was a safe distance away.

A three-quarter moon hung in the sky surrounded by a spattering of stars. Beautiful. I didn’t see stars like that in Miami. I focused my attention back to the end of the road. From my understanding, the best spot to see the light was just to the left of a cell tower. I could see the red lights of the tower. I studied the area left of it.

In my peripheral vision, a brief glow appeared. I whipped my head around. A translucent, but not quite human form, wafted above the ditch on the side of the road.

I gasped, and a tremble shot up my legs. It’s not real, whatever I’m seeing, it’s not real.

The figure floated toward me. I lifted the plastic, keeping my gaze on the glow.

What was it?

Not the light. It wasn’t in the right spot nor was it the right shape.

I blinked. Still there. Oh God…

I screwed my eyes shut tightly. When I opened them, the glow was gone.

WOW....it's been a long time since I read a really good Gothic romance....this one just might fit the bill for something new and different from my normal reading. If you feel the same way you can get your copy at Amazon.

Author Alicia Dean began writing stories as a child. At age 10, 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/
Blog: http://aliciadean.com/alicias-blog/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Alicia-Dean-559598754221926/
Twitter:  https://twitter.com/Alicia_Dean_
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/aliciamdean/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/468339.Alicia_Dean


Hope you enjoyed today's post!

See you next week for more Tuesday Treasures, Thursday Thoughts and Saturday Spotlights.

#SaturdaySpotlight is on Keri's Christmas Wish!

Good Morning Friends and a wonderful day it is because today you're the first to get a sneak peek into my new release, Keri's Christmas Wish!

You've seen the cover for quite sometime, but now you're getting a glimpse into the book.....

Can Keri get past her angst over Christ’s birth and enjoy the Christmas season?

For as long as she can remember, Keri Jackson has despised the hype and commercialism around Christmas so much she seldom enjoys the holiday. Will she get her wish and be free of the angst to truly enjoy Christmas this year?

A devout Christian at heart, Jeremy Hinton, a Psychotherapist, Life Coach, Spiritual Mentor and Energy Medicine Practitioner has studied all of the world’s religions and homeopathic healing modalities. But when a rare bacterial infection threatens the life of the woman he loves, will all of his faith and training be for naught?

Find out in Keri’s Christmas Wish available only at Amazon through KDP Select!

Excerpt: An image began to form in her mind…a young girl being led around on a horse by an ethereal figure. As the trio came closer, Keri felt as though she looked in a mirror. Her heart swelled. Tears clogged her throat, filled her eyes, and slipped down her cheeks.

“Hi, Keri!”

The childlike voice reverberated through her entire body. Keri smiled and whispered, “Hello.”

Excitement lit the youngster’s eyes. Brilliant colors vibrated around her. “Do you know who I am?”

“You’re me as a little girl. That’s Spark, my horse who died when I was a teenager.”

Spark nodded his head as the girl giggled—a joyous melody that rang through the atmosphere. “No, silly, I’m your big sister. Only, I didn’t live very long.”

Tension seeped in, a mixture of shock and awe.

“Don’t be afraid. Ask mom.”

And then the mirage disappeared.

Follow the TOUR and Enter the Rafflecopter giveaway for the chance to win 1 of 10 copies (5 print and 5 Ebooks)!

Dec 4^th – Patty Gordon/Patricia Kiyono Blog: http://creative-hodgepodge.blogspot.com/2016/12/blog-tour-keris-christmas-wish-by.html 

Dec 5^th - Linda Rondeau Blog:  http://lindarondeau.com/snarksensibility

Dec 6^th - Clare Revell Blog: http://telscha.blogspot.co.uk/

Dec 7^th – Diana Rubino Blog: http://dianarubinoauthor.blogspot.com/

Dec 8^th – Tina Gayle Blog: http://bit.ly/2h4VGR6 

Dec 9^th – Linda Carroll-Bradd Blog: http://blog.lindacarroll-bradd.com/

Dec 10^th – Marilyn Leach Blog: marilynleachteaandbooks.com

Dec 11^th – Robin Bayne Blog: http://wwwwritingbetweensundays.blogspot.com/

Dec 12^th – Raquel Byrnes Blog: http://nitewriter6.blogspot.com/

Dec 13^th – Cami Checketts Blog: http://www.camichecketts.com/  

Dec 14^th – Linda McLaughlin Blog: http://wp.me/p4zj2u-16W 

Dec 15^th – Diane Burton Blog: http://dianeburton.blogspot.com/

Dec 16^th – Maureen Bonatch Blog: http://www.maureenbonatch.com/blog/

Dec 17^th – Alicia Dean Blog: https://aliciadean.com/alicias-blog/

Dec 18^th – Jody Day Blog: http://jodysdevotionaljournal.blogspot.com/

Dec 19^th – Marian Merritt’s Blog: http://marianmerritt.blogspot.com

Dec 20^th – Kim Headlee Blog: https://kimiversonheadlee.blogspot.com/   

Dec 21^st - Patricia Preston Blog http://patricia-preston.blogspot.com/

Dec 22^nd  - Delia Latham Blog http://chirpnchatter.blogspot.com/

a Rafflecopter giveaway

ALSO: to celebrate the release of Keri's Christmas Wish I've put my other books on sale for only 99¢ thru Jan 3rd @ Amazon; B&N; and Smashwords!

Hope you enjoyed today's spotlight and you'll return each week for Tuesday Treasures, Thursday Thoughts and Saturday Spotlight.

Until next time, take care and God Bless.
PamT

#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/

Blog: http://aliciadean.com/alicias-blog/

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

Twitter:  https://twitter.com/Alicia_Dean_

Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/aliciamdean/

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