Meet British Author MATTHEW ROWE~Author of BETTER OFF DEAD

Happy Sunday everyone!

Well, if you’ve been wondering where I have been, let me tell you. It’s all good but I had some computer issues and have been off line for the last week. That really sucked! I am so used to just hopping on the computer, typing away and BAM! I got shut down for a few days but I am here now, back and stronger than ever.

I had to miss the FREAKY FRIDAY topic last week but will write about it next time. The topic then will be LET’S TALK ABOUT DEMONS!

March is almost here and you know what that means! Starting next month, I will be hosting ROCKSTAR WEDNESDAY and offering you a backstage pass so to speak into some of the coolest bands I know.

If you are a band or a solo performer (any genre) and you would like some FREE publicity, drop me a line and let me know. I am scheduling now for March!

Today is AUTHOR OF THE WEEK and this segment will be moving to Monday’s next month so I can concentrate on my SIX SENTENCE SUNDAY.

I will also be letting you in on a new book that I am writing and it SO totally different than what you are used to from me. It’s not HORROR, not INSPIRATIONAL, but…well, you’ll just have to come back and see.

Since I have been off line for a week, I will be getting back on tomorrow (Monday) and filling you in on everything that is new.

For now…welcome to AUTHOR OF THE WEEK and my guest, British author MATTHEW ROWE!

Have a great day and thanks for stopping by to say hello! 🙂

~AUTHOR OF THE WEEK~

Meet author MATTHEW ROWE

Matthew is the British author of the urban fantasy

BETTER OFF DEAD

“A world where sorcerers are saucy, vampires are a pain in the neck and everyone is clawing to be on top.

The city of Londinium is in a period of civil unrest, but it’s not because the tube is always late, or because people are tired of zombies shedding limbs in public, nor is it because the humans are tired of trying to eke out a living only to meet a messy end in a dark alley.

An unknown vampire has proclaimed himself ruler, and if there is one thing the people, both living and dead, hate more than a tyrannical ruler, it’s a secretive one. One young vampire is charged with discovering the prince’s identity. The only problem: he doesn’t want to.

Ramses, the world’s first genuine cat burglar, is far more concerned with eliminating the threat posed by the feline race rather than that of some pesky vampire lord, a dragon and civil war.

Can this undead slacker learn to grow up at last, foil this mysterious plot and halt the biggest supernatural conflict in history or will he need help from his mummy?”

Matthew, who was born in Boston,Lincs Sheffield, UK and now lives in Sendai, Miyagi, Japan describes himself as: “A recently radioactive, paranoid earthquake survivor who is pretty sure he has found his place in the world, even if it’s a bit shaky.

BETTER OFF DEAD is his first novel, but far from being his last. He hopes it goes some way to showing his determination to be a writer, since the bigwigs are a little unsure about his mutterings, strange smells and capability. Not just as a writer, but also as a human being.

He’s only just hit his thirties though, so he has plenty of time to learn how to dance.

He would also like you to know that he has a shiny website that showcases his range of creative efforts at an address not entirely dissimilar to this one, www.mattcannotwrite.co.uk “

I had the pleasure of talking to Matthew recently and getting to know him a bit better. He is an awesome guy with a quirky sense of humor which I love and I enjoyed his anwers and his advice!

ENJOY!

When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?

I think I always knew. Is that destiny?  I don’t remember a time when I didn’t. However, the first time I significantly thought about it was at Junior school. I was probably about 7 years old. We all took a fun personality-career on a clunky old BBC computer and the top suggested career for me was ‘author’. The only activities I really liked in Junior school was when we got to write something creative. I always wrote little bits in my free time. I even started my first novel when I was 16 years old, but the story ran out after 7 chapters.

It wasn’t until I was in my final year of university, studying a subject that I had lost interest in and couldn’t get anywhere with that I decided writing was the only thing that would make me happy and so I had to pursue it doggedly. I needed something to pursue doggedly because such a method wasn’t working with girls either.

What type of genre do you write in?

My only consistent genre is supernatural. I’d like to say that I write modern fairy tales but that isn’t always true. All of my stories have some kind of dark, other worldly element. Sometimes I use it for humour, sometimes I don’t. My anthology is a mixture of horror, comedy, science-fiction and straight sword and sorcery.

 

My novel is an urban fantasy comedy that spoofs horror stereotypes. I like to experiment and I like to play with peoples expectations, so my stories are usually a mix of genres that serve that purpose. I’d rather try and make someone laugh with a tap dancing werewolf than try and push things to make a normal werewolf more scary…. or would I? Y’know what I mean, Harry?

What inspires you to write outside of one genre?

I like to be original. I hate cliches. If I use them, it is to poke fun at them or set up a bigger premise. If I wrote for one genre, I’d probably write a story that’s been done before. If I mix it up, no one knows what to expect. Even me! I just let the story go where it wants to and then I reign it in to make a tight plot at the end of the process. Also, monkeys; they are my inspiration in anything. If you think about monkeys they can’t be serious, even when they try. They are funny and cute in everything they do. That’s me, but without the cuteness and maybe more of the bad smell.

Where do you get your ideas for your writing?

Other peoples’ ideas. I don’t steal them, but I ask myself “what if (such and such) happened here?” or “What if he did that instead?”. I read books and I watch movies and ideas come to me from those stories. Usually its a character trait, journey or a situation. I expand on it from there, searching out a purpose for the story and what genre I think would suit it best. Usually it is clear immediately if it’s going to be a comedy story or serious. In my anthology ‘Not All Of Them About Zombies’ I have an introduction for each story and I talk about what inspired me to write each of them. Dreams are another good source. It can be hard to find a coherent plot in dreams but some of my best stories come from them.

Who are your favorite authors and why?

Douglas Adams, Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett. They ARE my childhood. Hitchhiker’s Guide To The Galaxy was certainly one of the first ‘grown up’ books I ever read. I remember the second time I ever read it was when I was 8 or 9. It was just so bizarre. The comedy was most important and it was so strong that it didn’t matter that there wasn’t really a plot. That was part of its charm; the characters bounced around from one mad event to the next and it was oh so witty. Since then I have read most of his books several times.

 I then got into Terry Pratchett and devoured most of his books right through my teenage years. His humour was more subtle but I loved how he did something different with the fantasy genre and poked fun at both real and fictional worlds as he went, and still does!

Then in my late teens and onward I discovered Neil Gaiman, and I can honestly say that he writes the stories I want to write. Most of them are gritty but magical, realistic and fantastic, real modern fairy tales. He still is my favourite author. I even love the films of his books. His traits are so strong that they shine through even a secondhand production and sing. I could watch a movie I had no idea he had written and know it was him before the credits rolled. Mainly because it probably says in the opening titles but you know what I mean.

In your opinion, what key parts of a story make it great?

Characters. If you don’t have interesting characters then your reader isn’t going to stick around for a whole novel to see what happens to them. I think dramas, realistic tales, are far more difficult to write for because you have to make a believably flawed character that isn’t boring or annoying. I’m not sure I can do that. So I write comedy a lot of the time and to do that I merely need characters who are bizarre and over-the-top enough to amuse the reader and keep them going to see what madness they get into next. That’s easier for me, but the characters are still flawed. They just have hugely exaggerated flaws.

Take Ramses from my first novel ‘Better Off Dead’. He’s a vampire who really loves his unlife, and he has a problem with cats. He has a problem with cats in the same way that Hitler had a problem with Jews. He truly believes they are a malignant race hell bent on world domination. He’s constructed an intricate and bizarre fantasy world that comes into question during his adventures. A lot of the comedy comes from his reactions to that as he learns to grow up.

My next novel has a much deeper character arc, but it’s still a comedy. That’s going to be a SF comedy called No Technobabble Please, We’re Earthlings! and it’ll be released in e-book form, rather appropriately, this year. There’s some details on my site, but I don’t want to give away too much yet.

By the way, I love cats. Please don’t think that an author shares the views of his characters. That’s a pet peeve of mine and if you think so, I will come and eat your babies. Only joking…. Maybe.

What activities do you do for inspiration?

I live my life. I’m never short of inspiration; I love movies. I read whenever I can – though I find I have to make time for it nowadays; I play games. Anything that gets me involved in another world or gives me time to think about this one will give me inspiration. I often go on and on in my blog about the weirdest ideas that were triggered by a single mundane event in my day or a conversation I had. You wouldn’t believe it if I told you. So I recommend you read it, and comment! Every time my blog gets a comment an otherwise disabled baby gets to be born with all it’s limbs. I have a special understanding with God. True story.

Do you belong to any writing communities, or critique groups?

I used to. I don’t right now. I’m between writing groups, you might say. When I first started writing seriously I joined a little e-mail group and that was nice for a start. It was very private and we could all build each other’s confidence and protect our egos. Then I stepped out into the big wide world and I joined a site called Fanstory.com– I don’t know if it’s still going… *checks* … yes it is, but everyone I know there left long ago. It sounds like it’s for fan fiction only, but it’s not.

For a tiny yearly fee you can post work and you are encouraged to read others by a cool coins system. You can then use the coins to buy adverts and promote your work on the site. I made some really good friends there (Marzipan!) and learned a lot from them. That’s where I picked 82.334% of my writing skills, I think. It’s hard to tell without a calculator handy.  People I know started leaving and I left too because I couldn’t get critiques anymore. After that I started trying to sell my work.

 

I also do a writers circle by mail when I am in the UK. There’s a small group of us and we post a chapter at a time. The method is very personal and the work is very good. It’s so nice to sit down with the submissions and have a read through. I got wrapped up in the stories… I miss them. I’m still in touch with most of it’s members so I hope they can be successful too!

Has your work won any awards?

I haven’t won anything outstanding. I’ve won the Dark Fiction UK Story of the Month award for my short story called Don’t Fear the Reaper. That’s a story that has different meaning depending on who reads it. I like to make the reader think and I don’t give any solid answers for the events that transpire in that tale. It’s part of my anthology so anyone can easily read it.

 

I coud probably win more awards if I entered competitions but I’ve never been organised enough or had enough free time to seek them out. I’m terrible at the research and marketing side of the writing career.

Do you have a day job?

I certainly do, and I moved to Japan to get it. I’m from England but it was impossible for me to get a job there. I had been in university too long and I had no experience at anything. So I couldn’t get a menial job to pay the bills and I wasn’t good enough for anything I was really interested in.

 

Now, though, I’m happily working in Japanese High Schools teaching English to the cutest, most well-bahaved and respectful students in the world. Seriously, it’s mad how different they are to children back home. It’s a great job though. I’m practically a celebrity for just existing and any actual work I do is pretty rewarding. It can be shallow at times but I enjoy it. It pays well enough to keep me alive while I’m writing. That’s all that matters to me.

What advice would you give to others who are interested in pursuing a career in writing?

If you are anything like me, before you even try to publish or get noticed, you have to open yourself up to criticism. It’s seems to be a writer’s nature to be overly defensive of work and arrogant of ability, but you have to listen to people who read your work. The more you do it, the more you will be able to see what is good advice and what is just negative opinion. After a few months of it, on Fanstory, I could even tell what was jealous opinion from someone of a lower ability. Then you can really focus on improving your writing and make leaps and bounds in your skill.

 

Second, write what you love and don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.

 

Third, build a network and stay in touch. I wasted far too much time trying to get published the traditional way and missed the start of this e-book revolution. This was because i was slogging along on my own and had no one to inform me of other ways of publishing. You also need to build a name for yourself to get your work read and you’ll need a network for that. Unless you are already famous for something else…. just don’t go driving around town putting small animals on spikes or anything.

What is the title of your upcoming/newly released novel, and where can we find it?

My recent and first novel is ‘Better Off Dead’ a Young Adult Urban Fantasy set in a world where sorcerers are saucy, vampires are a pain in the neck and everyone is clawing to be on top.

 It’s available from Lulu.com now (http://www.lulu.com/product/paperback/better-off-dead/18790219) and is set to appear on Amazon by the time you read this! Check my web site for links or search for Better Off Dead by Matthew Rowe on Amazon! Of course, readers can always contact me for a signed copy. I accept paypal.

What is the best way for your fans to contact you?

My website (http://www.MattCannotWrite.co.uk) has direct e-mail links and I watch comments on my blog like I’m a hawk and they are juicy little rabbits. My blog is pretty new so I’m at that impatient and boring time of building an audience. I literally can’t wait for regular readers and when they come I shall shower them with love, sweets, monkeys and disease free prostitutes…. prostitutes aren’t available to minors. Sorry. But serious, I love interacting with people and I intend to entertain. I also do regular writing activities so it’s a good place for writers too.

What is your ultimate goal/dream concerning your writing?

The usual; movies, fame, gold statues, being more read than the bible. Can you imagine a world where the major belief system is based upon my work? With all the vampires, demons, murderers, apocalypses, monkeys, zombies, school bullies and deadly diseases there will be marginally less violence than under Christianity, or Islam.

Any final thoughts?

I probably should have a bath….

What a hoot it was talking to Matthew! I grew up watching the BBC and I LOVE British humor.

Thank you so much Matt for stopping by and taking the time from your busy day to spend time with us.

I wish you much success and happy days in your writing and I look forward to hearing back from you about your career! 🙂

BETTER OFF DEAD can be found on Amazon.com http://www.amazon.com/Better-Off-Dead-Matthew-Rowe/dp/1447873270/ref=sr_1_9?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1330275233&sr=1-9

LuLu.com http://www.lulu.com/

Other works by MATTHEW ROWE

“NOT ALL OF THEM ABOUT ZOMBIES”

How to contact Matthew:

His site: http://www.mattcannotwrite.co.uk/

FaceBook: http://www.facebook.com/aliasbillpardy

Goodreads:
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13365849-better-off-dead

 

~CONTACT ME~

I love to hear from my readers, whether good, bad or anything in between!

If you are interested in reviewing my books, interviewing me or being a guest on my blog, please contact me at Magicforest@peoplepc.com

Let me know if you want to be added to my distro list for upcoming book info!
I’ll also let you know about new releases, contests and other fun stuff and you’ll find out all the juicy stuff before anyone else does!

Twitter: @LisaVProulx

Amazon.com http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=ntt_athr_dp_sr_1?_encoding=UTF8&search-alias=books&field-author=Lisa%20V.%20Proulx

Barnes&Noble http://www.barnesandnoble.com/s?store=NOOKSTORE&keyword=lisa+v.+proulx

Smashwords Author Profile http://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/lisavproulx

My blog, The Main Artery:  https://lisavproulx.wordpress.com/

FaceBook Author Fan Page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Lisa-V-Proulx-Author-Fan-Page/223212131077410

And as always, thank you for your continued love and support! 🙂

 (¸.·’*Lisa¸.·*´¨) (¸.·’*

 “No work is insignificant. All labor that uplifts humanity has dignity and importance and should be undertaken with painstaking excellence.” – Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

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Meet Author JOYCE T. STRAND of the JILLIAN HILLCREST MYSTERY SERIES!

Hi everyone!

Welcome to Sunday and you know what that means, AUTHOR OF THE WEEK! Starting in March, I am moving this segment to Mondays so I can work on my SIX SENTENCE SUNDAY and some other goodies that I am working on.

I am also going to be hosting ROCK STAR WEDNESDAY and I will be letting you in on a backstage pass into the lives of some awesome musicians!

They are calling for snow here today in Maryland but it isn’t supposed to amount to very much, thank goodness.

Today I am hosting mystery writer Joyce T. Strand and I hope you enjoy meeting her! She is a very intelligent and talented author who will take you into the world of Jillian Hillcrest.

I hope you have a great day and thanks so much for stopping by to say hello! 🙂

~AUTHOR OF THE WEEK~

Today I would like to introduce you to the lovely and talented mystery writer, JOYCE T. STRAND!

Much like her fictional character, Jillian Hillcrest, served as head of corporate communications at several biotech and high-tech companies in Silicon Valley for more than 25 years. Unlike Jillian, however, she did not encounter murder. Rather, she focused on publicizing her companies and their products. Joyce received her Ph.D. from The George Washington University, Washington, D.C. and her B.A. from Dickinson College, Carlisle, PA.

Joyce is the author ON MESSAGE which is the first book in the  JILLIAN HILLCREST MYSTERY SERIES

“Murder intrudes on Jillian Hillcrest’s routine as head communications executive at a small Silicon Valley biotechnology company. She is eagerly staying “on message” to inform investors, the media, and the community about her company, Harmonia Therapeutics, and its latest drug candidate in Phase 2 clinical trials for the difficult-to-diagnose and treat autoimmune disease, lupus. When someone near to her is murdered, a determined San Francisco police inspector involves her in the investigation, convinced she is key to solving the crime. She co-operates fully only to find that solving a murder is more hazardous than writing press releases. On Message is the first of a series of Jillian Hillcrest mysteries. “

I had the pleasure recently of interviewing Joyce and getting to know her a lot better! She offers some very good advice for writers and like her, I enjoy listening to people. It really helps me with my character’s dialogue. I am excited for her and look forward to more of her books in the series!

1.) When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?

I have always enjoyed writing – in junior high I realized that I prefer essay questions to multiple choice, and I always chose writing papers over taking exams. When I searched for my first job, “writing skills” were at the top of the list of my selling points. I spent more than 25 years in a career that required writing, such as, 100s of press releases, by-lined articles, white papers, SEC filing documents, speeches, etc. I discovered that writing could be therapeutic.

However, I decided to become a writer of my own fictional novels with my own plots – as opposed to corporate promotion — approximately a year and a half ago. I was unsuccessful at finding a job, and was not happy about it. My husband suggested that I write mysteries – since I like them so much. Seemed like a good idea. So I started to write the first Jillian Hillcrest mystery. Then I attended the La Jolla Writers Conference where I listened to authors, publishers, agents and others involved in the publishing world. That’s when I really decided that I wanted to be a writer.

2.) What type of genre do you write in? 


The Jillian Hillcrest series is current day mystery/suspense. Next I plan to write historical mystery/suspense.

3.) What inspires you to write in this genre? 



Bottom line: I really enjoy reading mysteries. It is usually clear who the good guys are, and usually they win.  I like solving the puzzles to help them win, being kept in suspense, and meeting the hard-nosed private detectives, lawyers and cops in the Connelly, Patterson, Grisham, Baldacci books; or the amateur sleuths like Nancy Drew, the Hardy Boys, Miss Marple and the more modern, less innocent Lisbeth Salander. I find these books entertaining and usually I even learn something from them. But mostly I really like solving the puzzle so that the bad guys get caught.

4.) Where do you get your ideas for your writing? 


I get my ideas for the Jillian Hillcrest mystery series from two sources: (1) real cases in the news, particularly cases that could impact a PR executive in California and (2) my experiences as a PR executive for 25 years at several high tech and biotech firms.

5.) Who are your favorite authors and why? 


My all-time favorite author is James Clavell.  Reading Shogun was a unique experience because I actually shared the perspective of historical Japan and what it meant to be a Shogun. 

John Grisham – his legal thrillers keep me engrossed, and I appreciate learning about significant issues. I like his characters, particularly in A Time to Kill, The Client and The Pelican Brief.  Although not perfect, his protagonists exhibit courage and resourcefulness.
 
Stieg Larsson’s Girl with the Dragon Tattoo – couldn’t put his books down; I really appreciated sharing the characters’ perspective of Sweden.

For character, context and well-written literature – Harper Lee’s To Kill Mockingbird is a favorite, and Atticus Finch is a true hero; and John Steinbeck’s Cannery Row and Sweet Thursday have a lot to say about friendship.

6.) In your opinion, what key parts of a story make it great?

(1) Making the reader care about the characters so that we want to engage in their joy, successes, and pain. (2) Providing a predicament that clearly exhibits their character traits as they work to overcome it. (3) Enabling the reader to be part of the story and its characters.

7.) What activities do you do for inspiration? 



(1) Read books, blogs, newspapers.
(2) Listen closely to conversations.
(3) Watch and listen to people – at the supermarket, in an emergency, at a performance

8.) Do you belong to any writing communities, or critique groups?

The La Jolla Writer’s Conference
Sisters in Crime
Goodreads.
WoMen’s Literary Cafe

9.) Has your work won any awards?

Not yet!


10.) Do you have a day job? 



I do some part-time consulting. It would be difficult to write and have a full-time job – especially to self-publish.  Marketing a book is time-consuming. I have a lot of respect for authors who have a full time job and write at the same time.

11.) What advice would you give to others who are interested in pursuing a career in writing?

Just do it. Start to write. Then just keep at it.  If you have difficulty getting started, create a list of your characters and think about details to describe them.  If you start to produce a book or short story, but begin to lose heart, check out a writer’s conference in your area to “feel out” the writer’s world and get a sense of direction – they are typically not expensive, and you can meet lots of people and learn a lot about a writer’s world in just a couple days.

It’s all about perseverance. 

12.) What is the title of your upcoming/newly released novel, and where can we find it?

The title of my first Jillian Hillcrest mystery is ON MESSAGE. You can find it anywhere e-books are published, including the Kindle (Amazon.com), the Nook, or I-book.  If you want a paperback, go to my web site at http://joycestrand.com  Eventually I hope to distribute it more widely as a paperback. 

 
13.) What is the best way for your fans to contact you?

My web site is the hub of all my activities, so the best place to start is there.  http://joycestrand.com  My e-mail address is joyce@joycestrand.com
You can also keep up to date with what’s happening to Jillian Hillcrest by going to her website and blog:  http://jillianhillcrest.com; and http://jillianhillcrest.com/blog
Also, Jillian has her own Facebook page at: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Jillian-Hillcrest/134951169919477  Twitter: Joyce Strand@joycetstrand
 
14.) What is your ultimate goal/dream concerning your writing?

To sell enough books to make house payments!

15.) Any final thoughts?

In today’s world, self-publishing is becoming more common place.  It is a viable alternative for new authors. At a minimum, authors need to consider it, and decide which way to publish.  When new authors decide to write a book, they also need to learn the business of publishing– the traditional publisher’s route or the self-publishing route.  The business of publishing and marketing a book is as critical as writing a book.

 

~REVIEWS FOR ON MESSAGE~

“There are many wonderful story lines in this book that are beautifully orchestrated to produce a masterpiece. I’m waiting for the next book to see where this author takes Jillian in her corporate and personal life.”

“I could not put this down!
Character development was great, Jillian is fun and awesome, and the knowledge of her profession provides some nice ‘education’ in a new and interesting field, her historic insight provides a nice base.
And the adventure! Pulls the reader in from the start and just does not drop pace!
Love the start, “damn, damn”, and my favorite line has to be the exclamation decrying the lack of vines in California!
Hercule and Ms. Christie, and Philip, I think you’ve all met a wonderful companion in the twenty-first century!”

“I could not put down Joyce Strand’s first book “On Message”! For a new author it kept me hooked just like the Myron Bolitar series by Harlan Coben or the Reacher series by Lee Child. It was easy to picture the locations in San Francisco since Ms. Strand did an excellent job of description without too many mundane details. I lived in the Silicon Valley area; SF was not as familiar to me but I could visualize where Jillian lived and the surrounding areas with all the local eateries. The threads of mystery with the biotech firm and internal company intrigue between executives and potential investors was fantastic. I can’t wait to see how Jillian handles the next situation she steps into… the teaser chapter makes me hope that I won’t have to wait too long to find out.”

ON MESSAGE can be found on Amazon.com Amazon.com

http://www.amazon.com/Message-Jillian-Hillcrest-Mystery-ebook/dp/B006GF1V3I/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1329669452&sr=1-1

It is also available on  iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch http://itunes.apple.com/us/book/on-message/id485047383?mt=11

Thank you so much Joyce for visiting us today. Thank you too for hosting me on your site. It was a blast and I wish you many blessings in life and in your writing career! 🙂

~CONTACT ME~

I love to hear from my readers, whether good, bad or anything in between!

If you are interested in reviewing my books, interviewing me or being a guest on my blog, please contact me at Magicforest@peoplepc.com

Let me know if you want to be added to my distro list for upcoming book info!

I’ll also let you know about new releases, contests and other fun stuff and you’ll find
out all the juicy stuff before anyone else does!

Twitter: @LisaVProulx

Amazon.com
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=ntt_athr_dp_sr_1?_encoding=UTF8&search-alias=books&field-author=Lisa%20V.%20Proulx

Barnes&Noble
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/s?store=NOOKSTORE&keyword=lisa+v.+proulx

Smashwords Author Profile
http://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/lisavproulx

My blog, The Main Artery:  https://lisavproulx.wordpress.com/

FaceBook Author Fan Page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Lisa-V-Proulx-Author-Fan-Page/223212131077410

And as always, thank you for your continued love and support! 🙂

*´¨)
¸.·*´¸.·*´¨)
(¸.·´ (¸.·’*Lisa¸.·*´¨)
(¸.·’*

“When a man is sufficiently motivated, discipline will take care of itself.”
– Sir Alexander Paterson

Let’s talk about WITCHES! Wicca/Salem Witch Trails/Bewitched

Happy Friday everyone!

Two glorious words aren’t they, Happy and Friday! 🙂

I hope everyone is looking forward to the weekend. They are calling for snow here in Maryland on Sunday and the word S*N*O*W chills me to the bone! I hate the cold and anything to do with it. If I think of Hell, I don’t see fiery pits of flame and ash, I see cold, desolate and snow!

Well, today is Friday which means  I am writing about a topic that you might find interesting.

LET’S TALK ABOUT WITCHES is the theme today. I love witches and love to read and learn the history of them. I always dressed up as a witch as a little girl for Halloween and probably kept the sterotype of a big hat and a boomstick alive but hey, I was only a kid! Give me a break! 🙂

This Sunday will be my AUTHOR OF THE WEEK segment where I am hosting author Joyce Strand, author of the Jillian Hilcrest Mystery Series. Stop by to meet her and hear about what it’s like to be a mystery writer.

Starting in March, I will be changing the day for my author segment and just moving them to Monday. I want to start my SIX SENTENCE SUNDAY and don’t want to distract from my guest authors. I like to devote the whole section to them on their special day!

Also starting in March, I will be hosting ROCK STAR WEDNESDAY where I will host a band or a solo artist once a week. I love rock stars but you don’t have to be a rock band to join in on the fun. I enjoy all genres of music so contact me and let me know if you are interested in some FREE PROMOTION!

So, I hope you enjoy this edition of Friday’s topic.

Thanks for stopping by to say hello and have a great day! 🙂

~LET’S TALK ABOUT WITCHES~

I love witches! I always have and always will. The very first story that I ever wrote was called LILY WAS A WITCH, I was about 8 years old. It was about a little girl living in a family of witches and she knew she was different from the other children and her family was not accepted in the “real” world.

As a kid, I grew up watching Bewitched and wanted to be Samantha and just wrinkle my nose and make things appear.

As I grew older, I came to realize that the show was not real but was based on the actual faith of witchcraft.

My mother was a psychic/medium so I grew up in the world of the occult. My father was a staunch but loving Frenchman who thought the whole idea of ghosts and goblins was pure and utter nonsense!

My mother was also a Cherokee Indian who felt that her native beliefs were very closely related to what many people call witchcraft today.

Mixing herbs and saying prayers and chants are not that much different than casting a spell. Isn’t a spell just a prayer?

I have seen her do many strange things to get the results she wanted without riding a broom and flying through the Halloween night. But she would ask the tree for permission to remove its branch.

She was a kindred spirit with our animal brothers and sisters and was a kind, loving and forgiving soul. Witch or Native American? Both?

Was she a witch or just an elder in her Cherokee tribe? Was she praying or casting a spell? Did she ever harm others? No, that was not her way.

What I believe and know from the Wicca faith is that it is a gentle and very misunderstood religion.

The people I have known to be Wiccan are kind, loving and very spiritual people who are healers in some form or the other. They want to make the world a better place and through their love and harmony for Mother Earth, they spread that love throughout their lifetime, hoping to make a difference in every one they meet.

It took me a long time to be able to come out of the broom closet! Remember what they did to us back in old Salem? No wonder people are afraid to admit that they prefer to follow the old religion or otherwise known as “the Craft.”

Questions for me about Wicca:

Do you believe in God?

Absolutely! Just as I believe that it takes a male and a female to create a life, so it takes a male God and female Goddess (Mother Nature) to create the Earth.

Do you worship the devil?

Of course not! Wiccans are not devil worshippers! I do believe that there is evil in the world. If you believe in God and his angels, why would you not believe in his adversary and his demons?

Do you cast spells?

I have in my lifetime but not for bad. Like my mother, I simply believe that a spell is just a prayer.

Do you harm animals?

Are you kidding me? I love animals and they are my passion. I feel an empathy with them and that love creates a bond between us like no other. I have raised Rottweilers for over 13 years and could not live my life with animals around me.

Do you harm other people?

No, I do not. I believe in the Wiccan belief that if you wish harm on another or try to harm someone, it will come back to you three fold. Who needs that kind of aggravation! J

Wiccan morality is ruled according to the

Wiccan Rede, which (in part) states “An it harm none, do what ye wilt.” (“An” is an archaic word meaning “if”.) Others follow the slightly adapted Rede of “An it harm none do what ye will; if harm it does, do what ye must”. Either way, the Rede is central to the understanding that personal responsibility, rather than a religious authority, is where moral structure resides

Do you belong to a coven?

No, I prefer to be a solitary and work on my own but I am open to trying new things and meeting like~minded people.

Do you celebrate Christmas?

Yes, I love Christmas!

 

The article below from http://www.mdpagans.com/wiccaisnot.html describes how Wicca draws from the Old Traditions of Witchcraft. While this is true, we would simply like to clarify that Witchcraft and Wicca, while simular in many respects, are not the same. One can be a Witch, without being a Wiccan, just as a person can be a Christian, without being a Baptist. Wicca is a recognized religion, while Witchcraft itself is not considered a religion. Thus, Wicca might best be described as a modern religion, based on ancient Witchcraft traditions.

What Is Wicca

“Contrary to what those who choose to persecute or lie about us wish to believe, Wicca is a very peaceful, harmonious and balanced way of life which promotes oneness with the divine and all which exists.

Wicca is a deep appreciation and awe in watching the sunrise or sunset, the forest in the light of a glowing moon, a meadow enchanted by the first light of day. It is the morning dew on the petals of a beautiful flower, the gentle caress of a warm summer breeze upon your skin, or the warmth of the summer sun on your face. Wicca is the fall of colorful autumn leaves, and the softness of winter snow. It is light, and shadow and all that lies in between. It is the song of the birds and other creatures of the wild. It is being in the presence of Mother Earths nature and being humbled in reverence. When we are in the temple of the Lord and Lady, we are not prone to the arrogance of human technology as they touch our souls. To be a Witch is to be a healer, a teacher, a seeker, a giver, and a protector of all things. If this path is yours, may you walk it with honor, light and integrity”

~COOL SITES TO CHECK OUT ABOUT WICCA~

The Celtic Connection

http://www.wicca.com/celtic/wicca/wicca.htm

Suggested reading for Wiccan knowledge and understanding

http://www.wicca.com/celtic/catalog/books/suggested.htm

Pagan Pride

http://www.paganpride.org/resources/whatiswicca.html

Sugar Bane

http://blessedbe.sugarbane.com/wicca.htm

 ~SALEM WITCH TRIALS 1692~

“Lest terror be forgotten…”

“From June through September of 1692, nineteen men and women, all having been convicted of witchcraft, were carted to Gallows Hill, a barren slope near Salem Village, Massachusetts for hanging. Another man of over eighty years of age was pressed to death under heavy stones for refusing to submit to a trial on witchcraft charges. Hundreds of others faced accusations of witchcraft. Dozens languished in jail for months without trials. Then, almost as soon as it had begun, the hysteria that swept through Puritan Massachusetts ended.”

~THE INNOCENT~

Bridget Bishop

Hanged June 10, 1692

“I am no witch.
I am innocent.
I know nothing of it.”

Elizabeth Howe

Hanged June 19, 1692

“If it was the last moment I was to live,
God knows I am innocent…”

Susannah Martin

Hanged June 19, 1692

”I have no hand in witchcraft.”

Rebecca Nurse

Hanged June 19, 1692

“Oh Lord, help me! It is false. I am clear. For my life now lies in your hands….”

~PERSONS HANGED AND EXECUTED FOR WITCHCRAFT IN 1692~

~Bridget Bishop, June 10th
~Sarah Good, June 19th
~Elizabeth Howe, June 19th
~Susannah Martin, June 19th
~Sarah Wildes, June 19th

-Rebecca Nurse, June 19th
~George Burroughs, August 19th
~Martha Carrier, August 19th
~George Jacobs, August 19th
~John Proctor, August 19th
~John Willard, August 19th
~Giles Cory(pressed to death) September 19th
~Martha Cory, September 22nd
~Mary Easty, September 22nd
~Alice Parker, September 22nd
~Mary Parker, September 22nd
~Ann Pudeator, September 22nd
~Margaret Scott, September 22nd
~Wilmont Redd, September 22nd
~Samuel Wardwell, September 22nd

*One dog was also hanged, as he was believed to be a transformed witch.

Persons Who Were Accused of Witchcraft and Died in Prison While Awaiting Trial:

~Sarah Obsorne, 5/10/1692
~Roger Toothaker, 6/16/1692
~Ann Foster, 12/3/1692
~Lydia Dustin, 3/10/1693

*Giles Corey was “pressed” to death. He refused to stand trial after initially pleading guilty. Because he refused to be tried, he could not legally be convicted. The procedure of “pressing” was used to elicit a plea, one way or the other. He was placed on the ground, laying on his back and large rocks were placed on top of him. Giles, however, still refused to make a plea and was eventually crushed and killed by the weight of the rocks on top of him. The pressing lasted for 2 days, before Giles Corey finally succumbed. So, instead of making a plea, Giles Corey ended up making a statement!

~COOL SITES ABOUT SALEM~

From The Witchcraft Trials of Salem

http://law2.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/ftrials/salem/SAL_ACCT.HTM

The Salem Witch Museum

http://www.salemwitchmuseum.com/

Salem Massachusetts Web Site

http://www.salemweb.com/memorial/

~COOL QUOTES ABOUT WITCHES~

“I was born on the night of Samhain, when the barrier between the worlds is whisper-thin and when magic, old magic, sings its heady and sweet song to anyone who cares to hear it.”
― Carolyn MacCullough, Once a Witch

 

“Where shall we three meet again in thunder, lightning, or in rain? When the hurlyburly ‘s done, when the battle ‘s lost and won”
― William Shakespeare, Macbeth

 

“Never put your faith in a Prince. When you require a miracle, trust in a Witch.”
― Catherynne M. Valente, In The Night Garden

 

“Most books on witchcraft will tell you that witches work naked. This is because most books on witchcraft were written by men.”
― Neil Gaiman

 

“The first time I called myself a ‘Witch’ was the most magical moment of my life.”
― Margot Adler, Drawing Down the Moon: Witches, Druids, Goddess-Worshippers, and Other Pagans in America

 

“Keep the Magic Alive!”
― Debie Torkellson, The New Witches Club and the Power of Love, Magic and Friends

From http://www.goodreads.com/quotes/tag/witches

 

 

~THE WITCHES OF EASTWICK~ 

 

 

Alexandra Medford: Who are you?
Daryl Van Horne: Just your average, horny little devil.

 

 

~CONTACT ME~

I love to hear from my readers, whether good, bad or anything in between!

If you are interested in reviewing my books, interviewing me or being a guest on my blog, please contact me at Magicforest@peoplepc.com

Let me know if you want to be added to my distro list for upcoming book info!

I’ll also let you know about new releases, contests and other fun stuff and you’ll find
out all the juicy stuff before anyone else does!

Twitter: @LisaVProulx

Amazon.com
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=ntt_athr_dp_sr_1?_encoding=UTF8&search-alias=books&field-author=Lisa%20V.%20Proulx

Barnes&Noble
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/s?store=NOOKSTORE&keyword=lisa+v.+proulx

Smashwords Author Profile
http://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/lisavproulx

My blog, The Main Artery:  https://lisavproulx.wordpress.com/

FaceBook Author Fan Page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Lisa-V-Proulx-Author-Fan-Page/223212131077410

And as always, thank you for your continued love and support! 🙂

*´¨)
¸.·*´¸.·*´¨)
(¸.·´ (¸.·’*Lisa¸.·*´¨)
(¸.·’*

“Witchcraft … is a spiritual path. You walk it for nourishment of the soul, to commune with the life force of the universe, and to thereby better know your own life.”

Christopher Penczak, The Inner Temple of Witchcraft

Wounded Warrior Project/Writing article/Rockers wanted/Fun stuff!!!

Good morning everyone!

I hope you had a nice Valentine’s Day on Tuesday. We went to a dance on Saturday and on Tuesday night, ate all you can eat seafood at the race track and casino with some friends. Yum!!! 🙂

In this issue I am going to introduce you to my motorcycle group and share some cool writing articles with you. I also have some new things that I am working on that I want to tell you about.

So, have a great week and thanks for stopping by to say hello! 🙂

~THE WOUNDED WARRIOR PROJECT~

Steve and I own a Harley named Pearl. Yes, he named his bike but he is a guy and you know how they like to name things! 🙂 We belong to a group called The Eagle Riders and we enjoy doing a lot for charity. We are involved in the yearly ride to beneft St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital as well as The Children’s Miracle Network and raise funds for local charites.

Last Saturday we held a Valentine’s Day Dance and raised over $1,500 for the local food bank. We are all about family, community and country and want to do our part to make the world a better place.

So, that being said, on May 26, we are holding a PATRIOT RIDE & BBQ BASH to benefit THE WOUNDED WARRIOR PROJECT.

It will be held outdoors at the Fraternal Order of Eagles Post #1136 in Brunswick, Maryland.

Ride registration is from 9:00-10:45

10:45-11:00…safety regulations and ride blessing

Ride into the beautiful and historic Antietam Battlefield and return to the Eagles around 1:00-1:30

Cost: Riders $20, passenger $10, general admission is $10

Fee includes Ride, BBQ and Entertainment.

We have bands and vendors lined up for your enjoyment. Swag bags will also be given to the first 100 riders registered!

ALL PROCEEDS WILL GO TO BENEFIT THE WOUNDED WARRIOR PROJECT!

The WOUNDED WARRIORS is an organization that helps to:

• To raise awareness and enlist the public’s aid for the needs of injured service members.
• To help injured service members aid and assist each other.
• To provide unique, direct programs and services to meet the needs of injured service members

http://www.woundedwarriorproject.org/

So, mark your calenders and plan to attend this worthy event and help make our first annual event for WOUNDED WARRIORS a success!!!

For more info check out their event page on FaceBook https://www.facebook.com/events/372620039417810/#!/events/295218833869075/

Or www.er1136.foe.com

Email: eagleriders2010@gmail.com

~ROCK STAR WEDNESDAY~

If you know me, you know that I love rock stars! My favorite band of all time is AEROSMITH!!!

I also  love Motley Crue, Godsmack, KISS, Buck Cherry and Ted Nugent.

I enjoy all types of music but am a rocker chick at heart.

Starting in March, I am going to be hosting ROCK STAR WEDNESDAY! Each week I will feature a band or solo artist, any genre, and help to promote them. I already have a few lined up so this should be a lot of fun!!!

Looking for more so contact me and join the party!!! 🙂

~AUTHOR OF THE WEEK~

This Sunday is my weekly AUTHOR OF THE WEEK and I will be hosting author Joyce Strand who writes the Jillian Hillcrest Mystery Series. So come back and meet this talented author!

I may be making some changes to my segment by moving the AUTHOR OF THE WEEK to Saturday since I want to participate in the SIX SENTENCE SUNDAY and I want to be able to focus all of my attention and dedicate the blog entirely to my authors on their big day!

~THIS FRIDAY~

Well, as you know, every Friday, I write about a topic of interest and hope you walk away with something of value. This week’s topic is WITCHES!

LET’S TALK ABOUT WITCHES! We will delve into the history of the witch, talk about the Salem Witch Trials, explore the mystery of Wicca and find out a lot of other cool stuff.

I love witches and anything to do with them so this will be a lot of fun!

~COOL ARTICLE~

I found this cool article  from Writer’s Digest called “HOW TO WRITE CONVINCING DIALOGUE “http://www.writersdigest.com/uncategorized/writing-dialogue-the-5-best-ways-to-make-your-characters-conversations-seem-real?et_mid=538945&rid=3095933

I listen to people carefully as they talk, to me or out in public and I like to think that my character’s dialogue is the strongest thing that I write but I am excited to put some of these tips into place!

~WHAT I AM READING~

I have several books that I am getting ready to bite into, some hardcovers and some on my Kindle PC but I think I am going to start with an older tale, THE ENGLISH PATIENT.

Amazon describes it as:

“With unsettling beauty and intelligence, Michael Ondaatje’s Booker Prize-winning novel traces the intersection of four damaged lives in an abandoned Italian villa at the end of World War II.The nurse Hana, exhausted by death, obsessively tends to her last surviving patient. Caravaggio, the thief, tries to reimagine who he is, now that his hands are hopelessly maimed. The Indian sapper Kip searches for hidden bombs in a landscape where nothing is safe but himself. And at the center of his labyrinth lies the English patient, nameless and hideously burned, a man who is both a riddle and a provocation to his companions—and whose memories of suffering, rescue, and betrayal illuminate this book like flashes of heat lightning.”

 

 

 

~CONTACT ME~

 

I love to hear from my readers, whether good, bad or anything in between!

If you are interested in reviewing my books, interviewing me or being a guest on my blog, please contact me at Magicforest@peoplepc.com

Let me know if you want to be added to my distro list for upcoming book info!

I’ll also let you know about new releases, contests and other fun stuff and you’ll find
out all the juicy stuff before anyone else does!

Twitter: @LisaVProulx

Amazon.com
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=ntt_athr_dp_sr_1?_encoding=UTF8&search-alias=books&field-author=Lisa%20V.%20Proulx

Barnes&Noble
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/s?store=NOOKSTORE&keyword=lisa+v.+proulx

Smashwords Author Profile
http://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/lisavproulx

My blog, The Main Artery:  https://lisavproulx.wordpress.com/

FaceBook Author Fan Page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Lisa-V-Proulx-Author-Fan-Page/223212131077410

And as always, thank you for your continued love and support! 🙂

*´¨)
¸.·*´¸.·*´¨)
(¸.·´ (¸.·’*Lisa¸.·*´¨)
(¸.·’*

“Let me listen to me and not to them.”
– Gertrude Stein

 

 

Meet author PIERRE GILSON~Author of the Week! Author of WORLD WITHOUT A HOME!

 

Hi everyone!

Hope you are having a great Sunday! We went out to a dance last night and had a blast! More on that later!

We also got more snow yesterday! It was the weirdest thing. The sun was out in the morning and I thought it would be a pretty nice day, then suddenly I looked outside and saw a blizzard! It was crazy! Then the sun came out but while we were the dance, it snowed even more and the roads were very icy. We made it home okay though but that was kinda freaky.

Today it is very cold and windy and it really feels like winter out there! Yikes!

Well, it’s Sunday and you know what that means…AUTHOR OF THE WEEK! Today I am hosting Pierre Gilson who is a very talented artist and author. I hope you enjoy meeting him!

There is still time to get your answers in for my monthly contest to WIN a FREE book of mine, your choice. Deadline is February 14th!

Still looking for authors, publishers, literary agents, editors…anyone who is in the writing biz and would like to be a guest on my blog.

Next Friday’s topic…LET’S TALK ABOUT WITCHES!

Sympathies go out to the family and friends of Whitney Houston who passed away on Saturday, February 11, at age 48.

Well, I hope you have a great week and thanks for stopping by to say hello! 🙂

~AUTHOR OF THE WEEK~

Today I want to introduce you to a handsome and talented author and artist PIERRE GILSON!

Pierre is known as a “Writer of Epics” and is the author of WORLD WITHOUT A HOME, a gritty portrayal of a war torn nation and how the fate of that nation lies on the shoulders of one man, Ares Strife, to bring peace into an unsettled world.

He describes Ares as, “One of the main protagonists, unsure of himself at times but has confidence willing to help him make that change into something better than what he is now. His growth in the story will be noticed during every step that he takes in the Military and in all of Alpine and throughout the other lands of Gaia.”

When describing himself, he says, “I am a writer who likes to think of myself as an “Epic Novelist.” I am currently twenty years of age and of Haitian-African descent. Born in the great city of Dover, Delaware; residing in Phenix City, Alabama. During my years I have writen a variety of things such as poems, songs, and stories. Currently in college, I have been called truly gifted by my instructors. The only goal I have is to have people look at my work and see what I have seen all my life, a success. “

He is tudying creative writing at Chattahoochee Valley University and is fluent in English, Haitian Creole and French.

Some Fun Facts about WWOAH : This whole story and it’s entirety started as a poem in a College library.

Lone Sharks-Submariners that do all aquatic based missions. Such as infiltrate an enemy ships, find and locate lost material, and plant devices on submarines. They are required to hold their breath beyond the limit while under sea levels. A special pressure resistant suit is given to ease the pain on the body.

Although the book is about war, Pierre adds, “I didn’t put a lot of romance in Vol.1, it was more directed to the men through action but in the next volume, I’m sure to make the women very happy.”

WORLD WITHOUT A HOME is Volume 1 of a series and Pierre says, “It’s the beginning of The Epic!”

“In the war-infested world of Gaia; Few soldiers stood above their peers only to achieve what others could not…to be free.

On Gaia there is nothing but disagreements that lead to squabbles and eventually leads to all out wars. During an era of a somewhat instilled peace soldiers are called to deploy immediately by the Branch: Director. When this was ordered the events that spiraled after could only be stopped by a few soldiers. These heroes will bring a sense of stability to every corner of the world. But one who stands above all, the one who will bring among a limited peace, Ares Strife “The Peace Bringer.” Unlike ordinary soldiers, this particular one has the spirits of unsung warriors burning inside of him. The only question is “How will this peace be brought unto the world.”

Check out this awesome artwork! What a talented young man he is!

Pierre loves to hear from his fans and can be reached at any of the sites below or email him at:

pierregilson@rocketmail.com

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000927080522#!/pierre.gilson

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000927080522#!/pages/Wwoah-World-Without-A-Home/241270025915159

WORLD WITHOUT A HOME (Vol 1) is available in paperback, hardcover and eBook and can be found at:

Amazon http://www.amazon.com/World-Without-Home-Vol/dp/1469139839/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1329073379&sr=1-2

Barnes & Noble http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/w-w-o-a-h-pierre-writerofepics-gilson/1108598661?ean=9781469139845&itm=1&usri=pierre+gilson

Xlibris http://bookstore.xlibris.com/Products/SKU-0108096049/W-W-O-A-H-World-Without-A-Home.aspx

Thank you Pierre for joining me today! I wish you the very best in your life, your writing and art career! 🙂

~CONTACT ME~

I love to hear from my readers, whether good, bad or anything in between!

If you are interested in reviewing my books, interviewing me or being a guest on my blog, please contact me at Magicforest@peoplepc.com

Let me know if you want to be added to my distro list for upcoming book info!

I’ll also let you know about new releases, contests and other fun stuff and you’ll find
out all the juicy stuff before anyone else does!

Twitter: @LisaVProulx

Amazon.com
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=ntt_athr_dp_sr_1?_encoding=UTF8&search-alias=books&field-author=Lisa%20V.%20Proulx

Barnes&Noble
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/s?store=NOOKSTORE&keyword=lisa+v.+proulx

Smashwords Author Profile
http://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/lisavproulx

My blog, The Main Artery:  https://lisavproulx.wordpress.com/

FaceBook Author Fan Page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Lisa-V-Proulx-Author-Fan-Page/223212131077410

And as always, thank you for your continued love and support! 🙂

*´¨)
¸.·*´¸.·*´¨)
(¸.·´ (¸.·’*Lisa¸.·*´¨)
(¸.·’*

“Were the diver to think on the jaws of the shark, he would never lay hands on the precious pearl.”
– Saadi

 

NEW INTERVIEWS/CONTEST/LOTS OF COOL STUFF! :)

Good evening everyone!

Well, it’s been snowing all day here in Maryland but at least it didn’t stick on the roads. It was just enough to cover the grass and make it look like a winterwonderland…again! I long for summer! Awww…still a few more months yet. At least in March, it may be a little warmer, plus it’s my birthday month!

I wanted to share some cool interviews with you that I have been doing. These are with me this time and were conducted by some cool authors who have awesome blogs and they were kind enough to invite me to stop by and say hello!

So, I hope you have a great week, stay warm and thanks for stopping by! 🙂

I was interviewed by author Joyce Strand who writes the Jillian Hillcrest Mystery Series…check it out…http://joycestrand.com/joyceblog/

I was also interviewed by Stacy Eaton, the best selling author of My Blood Runs Blue Series…http://stacyeatonauthor.blogspot.com/2012/02/author-lisa-proulx-joins-us-for-writer.html

Stacy is also the Events Coordinator and Drill Sergeant for The World Literary Cafe (formerly The WoMen’s Literary Cafe) which is an awesome site for authors…check it out…http://www.worldliterarycafe.com/

Joyce will be featured as the AUTHOR OF THE WEEK on February 19 and Stacy will be AUTHOR OF THE WEEK on March 4.

Come back then to meet these talented authors and pick up some pointers and get to know them and their books better!

~AUTHOR OF THE WEEK ~

This Sunday February 12th, I will be hosting the talented author and artist, PIERRE GILSON. You won’t want to miss out on meeting this inspiring young man. So make sure you come back on Sunday and meet him!

Well, my call out to authors has been a tremendous success! I now have February and March filled and April is filling up fast. So come on and join the party!

You can either do an interview with some fun questions or feel free to write a guest blog, your choice!

Also on the lookout for editors, literary agents, publishers…anyone in the writing field who would be interested in doing the same. It would be fun to hear from the other side of the writing biz and maybe hear some tips on getting published or finding the right agent.

The artwork at the top of my page was done by the oh so talented artist Victoria Frances. If you like gothic prints, hers are some of the most beautiful I have ever seen. You have got to check out her site. It is unreal!
http://www.victoriafrances.es/

I have this as my Twitter page!

~NEXT TIME~

Let’s talk about vampires! Who wants to know more about these creatures of the dark and forbidden underworld? Come back next time to see and hear more about these undead characters that seem to have every mortal entranced by their death, beauty and hunger.

“The vampires have always been metaphors for me. They’ve always been vehicles through which I can express things I have felt very, very deeply.” – Anne Rice

~CONTEST~

This month I will start my monthly contest where I will be giving away one FREE copy of one of my books, your choice.

The contest starts today and each month will start off by me asking you one question. It could be about me, my books, my life, hobbies…whatever…but the answers can all be found in my blogs and on my FaceBook profile and Author Fan Page and in MY BOOKS!.

So, if you have been following and paying attention then you will know the answer. If you haven’t been following me, well then you are just a naughty biscuit and you will have to play catch up now! 🙂

You can submit your answer to me by any of the means below, email, FaceBook, Twitter…whatever…as long as I get your answer by the deadline of FEBRUARY 14TH.

All submissions who have the correct answer will be put into a hat, yes a hat, the old fashioned way of doing things, and I will draw one winner and it will be announced on my blog, FaceBook and Twitter. 

I will also feature you on my blog and it’s okay if you are not a writer, I will still talk to you! 🙂

I will feature you and whatever you do in life, I will make you the star of the day! How does that grab ya?

The WINNER will be announced on Tuesday February 14 in honor of Valentine’s Day!

Okay, the first ever question to WIN A FREE COPY of one of my books is (I’ll make it simple the first time):

WHO IS MY ALL TIME FAVORITE ROCK BAND?

If you know me, you know I LOVE ROCK STARS! 🙂

Okay, happy hunting and hope you WIN! 🙂

~CONTACT ME~

I love to hear from my readers, whether good, bad or anything in between!

If you are interested in reviewing my books, interviewing me or being a guest on my blog, please contact me at Magicforest@peoplepc.com

Let me know if you want to be added to my distro list for upcoming book info!

I’ll also let you know about new releases, contests and other fun stuff and you’ll find
out all the juicy stuff before anyone else does!

Twitter: @LisaVProulx

Amazon.com
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=ntt_athr_dp_sr_1?_encoding=UTF8&search-alias=books&field-author=Lisa%20V.%20Proulx

Barnes&Noble
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/s?store=NOOKSTORE&keyword=lisa+v.+proulx

Smashwords Author Profile
http://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/lisavproulx

Follow my blog:  https://lisavproulx.wordpress.com/

FaceBook Author Fan Page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Lisa-V-Proulx-Author-Fan-Page/223212131077410

And as always, thank you for your continued love and support! 🙂

*´¨)
¸.·*´¸.·*´¨)
(¸.·´ (¸.·’*Lisa¸.·*´¨)
(¸.·’*

“Believe that you can do it, under any circumstances. Because if you believe you can, then you really will. That belief just keeps you searching for the answers, then pretty soon you get it.”
– Wally “Famous” Amos

MEET GHOST HUNTERS JIM AND TAMMY WOLFE!!!

Hi again everyone!

Hope you are enjoying your day so far! It turned out to be pretty nice here in Maryland, sunny but cool and at least there is no snow! Steve is outside playing with his new toy, his new wood splitter and having a blast splitting wood and throwing it into a pile!

Hey, I wanted to introduce you to some good friends of mine, Jim and Tammy Wolfe. I have known Tammy for over 20 years and recently met her new husband Jim. They are a cool, laid back 70’s couple who just happen to be paranormal investigators, in other words, they hunt GHOSTS…and sometimes they find them!!! Other times, the ghost find them!

Their group is called Spirits Paranormal Investigative Services (SPIS), and they live near me in a 100 year old haunted house that is so cool when you walk inside. It has a really good vibe to it and has a down home earthy feel that makes you want to take off your shoes and lay on the couch.  🙂

I recently got to interview them and you will LOVE their spooky website! It is full of real life EVP’s (Electronic Voice Phenomenon) and they are some of the best ones you will ever hear!

But be warned…don’t wait till the sun goes down to listen these voices from the other side, you may not be able to sleep tonight!

I was unable to put their eerie photo from their website on here, it was too large for my old computer to hande but go to their site and check it out! It is the scene of the first haunted house they ever investigated and it has a very dark and evil history!

Hope you have a great day and thanks so much for stopping by to say hello! 🙂

There is arguably no topic in human history that incites as much contemptuous disbelief and passionate dedication as the existence of life after death.

Many people are taught at an early age that the idea of spirits walking the Earth is impossible and they could never conceive of such a thought.

But what if they really did exist and walk among us? What if spirits of the dead were trying to contact us or simply seek out “sensitives” who can hear and understand them?

Well, Jim and Tammy Wolfe  are on a mission to find those and many other answers among the dead.

Founders of the paranormal investigation group, Spirits Paranormal Investigative Services (SPIS), their desire is to “prove or disprove the existence of spirits and to document our findings by scientific and psychic means.”

Located in Brownsville, SPIS was founded by Jim four years ago.

Jim who retired as an accounting controller after 25 years has always had a keen interest in quantum physics. He took an interest in the paranormal after a friend suggested he watch, “Ghost Hunters“, a popular television show based in Rhode Island. The show features a team of paranormal investigators who are invited to homes, businesses and even ships to search for spirit activity.

Jim feels that some of the leading theories of quantum mechanics can help explain the paranormal in terms of natural physical occurrences.

Quantum mechanics suggest that the paranormal phenomena that investigators search for is not only real, but can be explained as natural processes of the universe.

After watching the show, he became intrigued by the idea of wanting to find out more about life after death. He was also impressed by all of the gadgets used in hunting ghosts and he bought a few to get started himself.

These gadgets are not toys and can run in the thousands of dollars for a single piece.

The equipment that Jim and his team use are EMF Detectors, KII-EMF Detector, TES – 1393 Tri Axle EMF Detector, Mel Meter 8704 – EMF Detector, Mel Meter 8704R Pro Navigator – EMF Detector w/KII.

Recorders-Sony ICD P210 – Voice Recorder Zoom H4N – Stereo Recorder.

Cameras-Sony HDR-SR11 – Hi Def handy cam with Carlo Zeiss lens, including wide angle, night vision, with stand alone IR light.

Olympus Styles 410 – digital still camera, all weather.

Each piece of equipment is designed for a specific use in the hunt for spirits.

For example, an EMF Detector can pick up electronic fields at a variety of frequencies. Usually, where there are ghosts, there are disruptions in the electronic magnetic field.
EMF meters measure electromagnetic emissions given off by those things that create energy.

Emissions associated with paranormal activity are often erratic and fluctuate often. Thus, most ghost hunter EMF meters are designed to detect readings that follow this pattern.

The Mel Meter Model 8704R measures EMF and temperature “cold spots” and vibrations.

Thermal imaging from drops in temperature to hearing disembodied voices can all be tracked with the above equipment.

As you can see, there is more to hunting ghosts than crawling into a dark space with a flashlight and a tape recorder.

Jim has had Parkinson’s Disease for approximately 14 years and has had multiple Deep Brain Stimulation surgeries. This means that he has two leads implanted deep into his brain that is attached to a battery that is implanted in his chest to help control some of the tremors. It is because of this that Jim feels he captures some of the best EVP’s that have ever been heard.

For you non-ghost hunters, an EVP is an Electronic Voice Phenomenon that can only be heard through electronic equipment created for the purpose of hearing such voices. In other words, these spirit voices cannot be heard with the naked ear.

He also feels an electrifying experience he had many years ago as the manager of a Roy Rogers Restaurant, may also play a part in his ability to “receive” voices.

He was called into the kitchen where there was a complaint that the oven was shocking those who tried to use it. Jim took a look at it, and while trying to find the cause of the shocks, became electrocuted. He was pulled away to safety but only in the nick of time.
Jim’s first investigation took him to an old abandoned house with a very dark history.

Inside he heard sounds of horses and found remnants of children in the attic. This gave Jim the desire to look further into the paranormal realm.

Jim is not alone on these investigations. His wife Tammy, who has been interested in the paranormal for many years, often accompanies him on the road. She had her first personal experience while staying in an old family home after her grandmother had passed away. She has participated in a number of investigations where the crew have gotten class A EVP’s.

Class A meaning completely audible and no one has to tell you what the spirit said.
Class B are good ones but still not perfect and Class C’s are iffy and you may have to strain or listen to them several times to understand them.

Jim’s first professional investigation took place at Gabriel’s Inn in Ijamsville about four years ago.

While on the tour of the residence, Jim and his crew were taken down to the wine cellar where he caught his first EVP. The voice simply said, “Patrick.”  Jim was elated. “It was the first real evidence that I had caught on tape. It made my day!”

Their next house was in New Market and was built in the late 1700‘s. They have finished the preliminary investigation and are in the process of scheduling a full investigation.
The Preliminary Investigation was done by Jim and an investigative medium.

According to Jim, “This is a very active home and we got in excess of 80 EVP’s in a two hour session and the medium had many communications with spirits. Most of the EVP’s were considered to be “intelligent.”’

There are two basic types of hauntings, intelligent spirits and residual energy.

An intelligent haunting is usually a spirit who is aware of its surroundings and most often its situation. The spirit is able to maintain its identity, personality and memories after death. They can be good, bad, evil or simply lonely. In other words, you can hold a conversation with an intelligent spirit.

Residual hauntings are not the same as intelligent hauntings and are one of the phenomena that have mystified paranormal investigators for decades. These are hauntings that are moments in time that play over and over again, like a broken record. They are also usually more nondescript than an intelligent haunting. They can be anything from a woman screaming to a baby crying or even music playing from an era long ago.

Jim comments on the fact that so many investigations take place at night. Oftentimes, this is for convenience if the residence or business is occupied. But as Jim says if a place is haunted at night, then it is haunted during the day and one does not need to wait until a dark and stormy night to investigate.

The crew get in and get their job done and do not feel that it should take hours and hours to investigate.

He also does not believe that it takes a village to find a ghost. He likes to keep his team small and intimate which prevents contamination and it is also better for the spirits involved.

Too many cooks spoil the soup!

After each investigation, Jim and his crew do research that can corroborate any of their findings.

Aside from investigating, Jim will be giving Ghost Hunting classes. He is forming a “Ghost Hunting 101” workshop and will only be allowing 10 participants to sign up for classes.
“We’ll be going over all the equipment and tips for the hunt! That night, after the workshop, you will experience a haunted residence and use the skills you learned that day.”

Sounds like a frightfully good time!

Jim and his crew want to invite you to contact them if you feel you have a haunting in your home or place of business.

They guarantee complete anonymity.

They will also do research on your location for historical information that will aid both you and SPIS in determining the cause of the disturbance.

The crew will start by doing a preliminary investigation which usually takes about an hour and usually they use at least one investigator and one Psychic Investigative Medium.
Then they do a reveal that generally consists of a written analysis report with historical documents and they will show you any audio or visual evidence, once again with complete anonymity.

They do not charge money for any investigations and we will keep their findings confidential upon your request. They do ask that if they are able to document activity, that they are given permission to post the findings on their web site without giving up your anonymity.

Tammy adds that the couple wants to “figure it all out” and help people calm their fears. Their crew is honest, reliable, discreet and confidential.

The newlywed couple, who married on August 26, 2011, live in a spirit active 100 year old home in Pleasant Valley.

For general information or to have the team investigate for you, contact them at Info@superspis.com or contact Jim directly at jim@superspis.com or check out their website…http://superspis.com/Home_Page.php

They can also be found on FaceBook.

CONTACT ME

I love to hear from my readers, whether good, bad or anything in between!

If you are interested in reviewing my books, interviewing me or being a guest on my blog, please contact me at Magicforest@peoplepc.com

Let me know if you want to be added to my distro list for upcoming book info!

I’ll also let you know about new releases, contests and other fun stuff and you’ll find
out all the juicy stuff before anyone else does!

Amazon.com
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=ntt_athr_dp_sr_1?_encoding=UTF8&search-alias=books&field-author=Lisa%20V.%20Proulx

Barnes&Noble
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/s?store=NOOKSTORE&keyword=lisa+v.+proulx

Smashwords Author Profile
http://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/lisavproulx

Follow my blog:  https://lisavproulx.wordpress.com/

FaceBook Author Fan Page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Lisa-V-Proulx-Author-Fan-Page/223212131077410

And as always, thank you for your continued love and support! 🙂

*´¨)
¸.·*´¸.·*´¨)
(¸.·´ (¸.·’*Lisa¸.·*´¨)
(¸.·’*

“I was always looking outside myself for strength and confidence, but it comes from within. It is there all the time.”
– Anna Freud

 

CALL OUT FOR AUTHORS/PUBLISHERS/EDITORS/AGENTS plus NEW BLOG DESIGN plus COOL ARTICLE!

 

Good morning everyone!

I hope you had a nice weekend and are looking forward to the week ahead. Why am I so cheerful this early in the morning? Why not? We are not in control of a lot of things but we are in control of our attitude and how we look at things and treat other people. So, good morning Sunshine! 🙂

I wanted to introduce you to my new blog design. I have looked for days for the right header and background and spent hours working on it and I finally mixed two things together that I liked and here it is!

I am not a dark, goth person, which is cool too, but more of a gold, rust, and brown type of girl. I love the Autumn colors and of course I had to throw in a vampire beauty! I hope you like it!

Hope you have a great day and thanks for stopping by to say hello! 🙂

AUTHOR OF THE WEEK

I also hope you liked my first segment of AUTHOR OF THE WEEK where I hosted author Christine Cunningham yesterday. I wanted to make her photo larger but for some reason, I was unable to do that.  😦

Next week I will host another talented young writer, PIERRE GILSON.  He writes edgy, realistic types of stories and is also a very talented artist. He will be here on February 12th!

I am still looking for authors/ writers/editors/publishers/agents, anyone in the field who would be interested in doing a guest blog or interview.  I would like to start featuring a segment from publishers, agents and editors giving advice for writers.

So please let me know and I can get you hooked up right away!

Speaking of guest blogs and blog tours, I found this neat article from Writer’s Digest which talks about “10 Tips on Guest Blogging and Blog Tours”…check it out…http://www.writersdigest.com/editor-blogs/guide-to-literary-agents/10-tips-on-guest-blogging-and-blog-tours?et_mid=533431&rid=3095933

This is a really cool video my friend Judy sent me the other day. It actually mad me cry but then again, I am a sappy Pisces and I cry at a lot of stuff but check it out..it is about the power of our words and how they can change our world…http://www.youtube.com/watch_popup?v=Hzgzim5m7oU&vq=medium

On a personal note…my favorite song of all time is ‘THESE BOOTS WERE MADE FOR WALKING” by the legendary Nancy Sinatra…well I got a notice this morning that she is now following me on Twitter! Yippee! I really love her and that song will always be my fav! Thanks Nancy! 🙂

CONTACT ME

I love to hear from my readers, whether good, bad or anything in between!

If you are interested in reviewing my books, interviewing me or being a guest on my blog, please contact me at Magicforest@peoplepc.com

Let me know if you want to be added to my distro list for upcoming book info!

I’ll also let you know about new releases, contests and other fun stuff and you’ll find
out all the juicy stuff before anyone else does!

Amazon.com
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=ntt_athr_dp_sr_1?_encoding=UTF8&search-alias=books&field-author=Lisa%20V.%20Proulx

Barnes&Noble
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/s?store=NOOKSTORE&keyword=lisa+v.+proulx

Smashwords Author Profile
http://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/lisavproulx

Follow my blog:  https://lisavproulx.wordpress.com/

FaceBook Author Fan Page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Lisa-V-Proulx-Author-Fan-Page/223212131077410

And as always, thank you for your continued love and support! 🙂

*´¨)
¸.·*´¸.·*´¨)
(¸.·´ (¸.·’*Lisa¸.·*´¨)
(¸.·’*

“Take calculated risks. That is quite different from being rash.”
– George S. Patton

MEET AUTHOR CHRISTINE CUNNINGHAM!!! Author of the Week!

Hi everyone!

Well, a few days ago it was 70 degrees here in Maryland and last night we got snow! Not a whole lot but enough to make it cold and wet! It’s snowing out there again today but at least it is not as cold and hopefully Spring will be here soon!

Today I am starting my AUTHOR OF THE WEEK segment where I will be introducing you to a new author every week. All different genres are included and I think you will enjoy the fun mix of writers and authors I have put together. I got a great response and I look forward to you meeting some new people on the scene.

Have a great day and we’ll talk again soon! 🙂

AUTHOR OF THE WEEK

CHRISTINE CUNNINGHAM

Author Christine Cunningham

 

Christine is the author of ETERNAL BEGINNING, THIRTY-DAY GUIDE TO APPLY ETERNAL BEGINNING and FIRST SNOW

 

ETERNAL BEGINNING

 

 

 

 

Are you questioning your life’s path?  What are those pesky emotions for anyway? Each moment holds the chance to change whether or not we see the way. Find your guide to a sparkling life!

Review for ETERNAL BEGINNING

“Eternal Beginning is an uplifting, spiritual tale of one woman’s search for meaning in her life. While trying to escape the hustle and bustle of everyday life, this woman finds herself confronted by what can only be described as her “guardian angel” who offers her advice on live, love, peace, and contentment. I found Eternal Beginning both refreshing and uplifting as it shed light on an otherwise dark day. This is an ideal read for anyone who feels the stress and frustration of everyday life. I read Eternal Beginning in one sitting and felt inspired at the end.”

 

THIRTY-DAY GUIDE TO APPLY ETERNAL BEGINNING

 

 

This book is designed to take you through a thirty-day guide to apply the lessons within the book, Eternal Beginning. Each day is divided by a quote from Eternal Beginning, the lesson to apply, a paragraph to motivate, and finally, an action step that will cement the lesson in place.

FIRST SNOW

 

 

Review for FIRST SNOW

“This is a sweet, fast-paced romance (read it in one night) that is set in a quaint, small town during Christmas. Family is a strong theme throughout the story. If you are looking for a shorter romance (about a 16k word novella) to help you get into the Christmas spirit, look no further! “

Christine decribes herself as someone who “writes fictional stories to uplift and inspire. I am a life-long student of happiness and how to attract it. I compile what I learn and weave it into an understandable and enjoyable story.”

 

I sat down with Christine and asked her what she felt was the secret to a happy and fulfilling life. That’s a heavy duty question but her answer was very inspiring and profound.  I loved her answer and I think you will too! 🙂

 

What is the secret to a happy and fulfilling life?

 

Choice. At first blush that may seem simplistic or even untrue. Bear with me and I’ll explain. I live by the philosophy that I attract everything that happens in my life. This means a few things to me:

 

1. I have control.
2. Everything that happens to me is good because it’s communication on my direction in life.
3. I can change in an instant.

 

This doesn’t mean I live in a cloud of eternal bliss sitting in the yoga lotus position all day. In fact, there are a few things that I have invited by choosing to attract by default that were downright unpleasant. After realizing what I was doing I could change the direction of my thoughts and then slip back into the vibe I prefer. How does that happen? Let me share my process.

 

1. I make it easy to be happy!
a. Listen to comedians
b. Take delight in small things like stickers or green lights during your commute.
c. Listen to uplifting music.
d. Surround yourself with happy people. If you are unable to choose who is around you physically then mentally surround yourself with positive people.

 

2. I mentally ask to feel a little better.
a. This means going from depressed to angry to frustrated to annoyed and so on. Each step makes me feel more in control and positive.

 

3. I review what mental question I was asking that allowed my mood to fall.
a. Why am I so stupid?
b. Why don’t I ever get what I want?

 

4. Then I begin to ask a better question.
a. What am I/can I learn from this situation?
b. How can I immediately benefit from this situation?
c. What evidence am I choosing to see or ignore and how is that affecting my outlook?

5. I take immediate action in a positive direction.
When the conscious choice is made to be happy and fulfilled, despite circumstances, the vivid splendor of life reveals its secret.

 

Wow, I think we can all learn a lot from this wise and talented young lady! I hope you get a chance to check out Christine’s books and visit her on her blog and stop by to say hello on FaceBook!

I highly recommend her!!!

 

Thank you Christine for stopping by today and CONGRATULATIONS on being AUTHOR OF THE WEEK!!! 🙂

 

How to reach CHRISTINE CUNNINGHAM

Links
Blog: http://mungoisischristine.blogspot.com/
Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/E_B_ChristineC
Facebook fan page: http://www.facebook.com/CCNovels
Stumble Upon: http://www.stumbleupon.com/stumbler/ChristineCunnin0
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5350558.Christine_Cunningham
Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/user/stovens?feature=guide
Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/ChristineC

Books
First Snow: http://amzn.to/v6GmaF
Eternal Beginning: http://amzn.to/pkBzEC
30 Day Guide to apply Eternal Beginning: http://amzn.to/sfjNIn

I hope you have enjoyed this week’s AUTHOR OF THE WEEK! Christine was a pleasure and a big help to me by giving me some awesome advice!!!

 

Have a great day everyone and thanks for stoppping by! See you next time! 🙂

 

~CONTACT ME~

 

I love to hear from my readers, whether good, bad or anything in between!

If you are interested in reviewing my books, interviewing me or being a guest on my blog, please contact me at Magicforest@peoplepc.com

Let me know if you want to be added to my distro list for upcoming book info!

I’ll also let you know about new releases, contests and other fun stuff and you’ll find
out all the juicy stuff before anyone else does!

Amazon.com
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=ntt_athr_dp_sr_1?_encoding=UTF8&search-alias=books&field-author=Lisa%20V.%20Proulx

Barnes&Noble
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/s?store=NOOKSTORE&keyword=lisa+v.+proulx

Smashwords Author Profile
http://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/lisavproulx

Follow my blog:  https://lisavproulx.wordpress.com/

FaceBook Author Fan Page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Lisa-V-Proulx-Author-Fan-Page/223212131077410

And as always, thank you for your continued love and support! 🙂

*´¨)
¸.·*´¸.·*´¨)
(¸.·´ (¸.·’*Lisa¸.·*´¨)
(¸.·’*

“If one scheme of happiness fails, human nature turns to another; if the first calculation is wrong, we make a second better.”
– Jane Austen

 

VAMPIRE NOVEL~PUNCTURE~READ A FREE EXCERPT!!!

Happy Friday night!

Wow, two blogs in one day, no wonder it was 70 degrees here this week! 🙂

I wanted to share with you an excerpt from my vampire novel PUNCTURE.

What is PUNCTURE?

PUNCTURE

PUNCTURE is a hauntingly beautiful tale about vampire love and betrayal between a mortal and an undead.

Craving a taste for the dark side, Veronica gets more than she bargained for when she is seduced by Victor, an evil and dangerous vampire. His obsession with her runs her off the road to Heaven and soon she too will turn her back on righteousness.

Longing to be mortal again and trapped in the darkness of an immortal life, she struggles with knowing right from wrong, Heaven from Hell, and love from hate.

But when she discovers the truth about her dark prince, will it be too late to save her angelic soul? Will her new vampire friend help her destroy the only man she has ever loved? And why is he so willing to help her destroy him?

You will fall in love with the innocent Veronica and her search for love, feel her joy at rekindling an old flame and die with her as the love of her life becomes her murderer.

Victor is a charming but wicked vampire who could compel a corpse on the gallows to speak. We follow him as he preys on Veronica, senses her weakness and watch as he pounces on her and destroys her with just…one…puncture.

Every woman knows a man like Victor

And now for your FREE excerpt:

Although my love for him at one time was beyond words, I had now become repulsed by the very sight of him. I had become remote from sunlight, love and laughter and all the sweetness of life. He had taken these things from me, and after tonight, after my first kill, I knew there was no going back. I was imprisoned by the agony of being cut off from God, which to me, was the true meaning of hell. I envied the saved and the righteous, I wanted to be a part of the living again. I will never, ever forget the look on that woman’s face as I released her from her earthly existence. I will have a long time to remember.

“Why do you fight it so?” Victor said as he rose, his usual sarcasm noticeably softened. “You have had time to adjust, have you not?”

“Adjust?” I shouted. “Adjust to being a killer, a monstrous fiend? I will never forgive you for what you have done to me. I want to awaken from this sleep of death. I want to feel warmth again, to love again, to live!”

“Never is a long time, even for us”, he sighed. “Don’t you realize the gift that I have given you, yes a gift. Let me read you something.” He reached into a drawer and pulled  out a heavy black book. “Here it is…let me see…yes here, listen to this:

But man dies and is laid low; man breathes his last and where is he? As water fails from the lake and a river wastes away and dries up, so man lies down and rises not again.

“Do you recognize those words Veronica? Well, you should. They come from the book that mortals have relied on for centuries to guide them, to fix them. I had those words and others like them shoved down my throat for years…I can still taste them.  I have delivered you from the barren darkness of the grave, from your own private burial mound for the dead and you still refuse to thank me, to see it my way…the only way.”

He threw the book down on the bed. The words Holy Bible stared back up at me as if to shame me for what I have done.

PUNCTURE can be purchased on Smashwords at http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/107745#longdescr

and Amazon.com at http://www.amazon.com/Puncture-ebook/dp/B006CQBC62/ref=sr_1_cc_1?s=aps&ie=UTF8&qid=1328319367&sr=1-1-catcorr

~CONTACT ME~

I love to hear from my readers, whether good, bad or anything in between!

If you are interested in reviewing my books, interviewing me or being a guest on my blog, please contact me at Magicforest@peoplepc.com

Let me know if you want to be added to my distro list for upcoming book info!

I’ll also let you know about new releases, contests and other fun stuff and you’ll find
out all the juicy stuff before anyone else does!

Amazon.com
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=ntt_athr_dp_sr_1?_encoding=UTF8&search-alias=books&field-author=Lisa%20V.%20Proulx

Barnes&Noble
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/s?store=NOOKSTORE&keyword=lisa+v.+proulx

Smashwords Author Profile
http://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/lisavproulx

Follow my blog:  https://lisavproulx.wordpress.com/

FaceBook Author Fan Page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Lisa-V-Proulx-Author-Fan-Page/223212131077410

And as always, thank you for your continued love and support! 🙂

*´¨)
¸.·*´¸.·*´¨)
(¸.·´ (¸.·’*Lisa¸.·*´¨)
(¸.·’*

“In things pertaining to enthusiasm, no man is sane who does not know how to be insane on proper occasions.”
– Henry Ward Beecher