Release Day! by Liz Flaherty #RomanceGems

Actually, it was yesterday, and that's when I'm writing this--make sense so far? Read through to the end--there's a giveaway...and the raffle. October has been an exciting month!

When I’m asked which is my favorite of my own books, I generally say it’s the one I’ve just finished, and that’s true. My emotions are still roiling around in those pages and I’m still feeling odd about saying goodbye to those protagonists.

It’s also true that there are favorite scenes from every book, most beloved characters from each one, and places that years later I still remember—not just their names but how they felt. Like the Cole-Porter-titled businesses in the Lake Miniagua Series, the River Walk in The Debutante’s Second Chance and Jar of Dreams, and Peacock, Tennessee. Peacock was the setting of One More Summer, the story that took me ten years to sell.

The one that to this day has the strongest hold on my heart. I’m not going to say why—even if I knew for sure or could put it into words; books you love or don’t are your choice, not the author’s. But after One More Summer came out in 2012, I wrote a sequel to it. Not because I wanted to, really, but because the story was waking me up at night with unreasonable demands. (That sounds goofy, doesn’t it? But it’s very close to the truth.) And then it took five years to sell.

Now, here it is, and here is another story with an aching, smiling hold on my heart. The Healing Summer is Carol's story. Carol in her size 16s, still taking classes at 38 without a degree in sight, Peacock's favorite hair stylist, and one of my favorite heroines of all time. I hope you like her, too.

Blurb: When Steven Elliott accidentally rides his bike into Carol Whitney’s car at the cemetery, the summer takes on new and exciting possibilities. Long friendship wends its way into something deeper when their hearts get involved. Feelings neither of them had expected to experience again enrich their days and nights.  But what happens when the long summer ends? When Carol wants a family and commitment and a future, Steven isn't so sure. He’s had his heart broken before—can he risk it again?

To be eligible for the Random Draw Giveaway for a paperback copy of

The Dark Horse (and a bag of goodies--always goodies!), leave a comment with your email address. For winners outside the continental U.S., the prize will be an ebook.

The deadline for entering this giveaway is Tuesday, November 5, at 6:00 PM. I'll notify the winners next day by email and here in comments on my blog post.

***

Last day to enter the October Giveaway! Full information can be found on the Monthly Giveaway tab above. You can also enter by clicking HERE.

Where Did the Month Go??? by Nancy Fraser

October has flown by faster than any month this year. Tomorrow the goblins will come out, the ghosts will haunt us and, more than likely, someone will try ... I repeat ... TRY to steal my broom!

Beware ... I don't need it to put a spell on you.

My October was filled with hard work and fun and a combination of both. I spent the first week and half prepping for the Fall in Love with New England Reader/Author Conference in Nashua, New Hampshire.

Beginning in early September (maybe even in mid-August), I began my promo activities. I put book labels on packets of gum for the conference tote bags, assembled 100 book-related charms for those who were collecting them for our annual charm bracelet giveaway, added tassles and charms to 150 bookmarks, and assembled two gift baskets. Oh, and fifty candy bags for the readers who went from room to room trick or treating!

It was a lot of work, but well worth it for the chance to meet so many wonderful readers and new-to-me authors. Not to mention the very successful booksigning that was held on Saturday.

However, what made the conference even more special were the seven other Romance Gems in attendance. Even though I already knew a few of them, it was great to meet the rest.

Peggy Jaeger, Nora LeDuc, Elsa Kurt, Satin Russell, Kari Lemor, Lucinda Race, Me, Kathryn Hills

Two youngest grandchildren

Now, as we reach the last two days of the month, we have trick-or-treaters to look forward to and costume parties to attend.

Middle Granddaughter-Makeup Queen

Don't begrudge an older teen some candy (it's better than them attending a questionable party). Or, a child without a costume (maybe they can't afford it). AND, please remember to drive safely if you're out and about on Thursday night.

Personally, I'm looking forward to my grandchildren and their myriad of costumes. They never cease to amaze me with their creativity. The two oldest don't go out any more, but the other three will be ringing bells and collecting as much candy as their bags will hold.

Just because we've reached the end of the month doesn't mean we're out of giveaways. I'm in the mood to share, so I'll gladly give away a signed copy of my contemporary/secret baby book, Home is Where the Hunk is, to one lucky commentor who shares their favorite Halloween memory with the group. (Note: U.S. and Canada only for signed copy. Others will receive a digital copy.)

Don't forget to include your email address (written out, eg., romwriter96 at gmail dot com).

About the Book

When globe-trotting photographer Allison Cain comes home to her family ranch in Montana it’s to get to know her nephew and to make amends with the widowed brother-in-law she’s left alone to raise his young son.

Evan Carver could never deny his late wife’s younger sister anything, despite the fact she’s been conspicuously absent over the past three years since her sister’s death. Now she’s home again on what she’s called an extended vacation. Evan’s first concern is for his son, Cody, and how his aunt’s visit will affect the five year old when she decides to return to her high profile career.

Allison has no intention of going back to work. In addition to getting to know Cody, she needs to confess her biggest secret to Evan. How do you tell the man you’ve always loved that you’re not just his son’s aunt, but also his mother?

*Winner, International Digital Award for Contemporary Romance Novel*

* * *

There's still time to enter our Rafflecopter Giveaway as well. Full information can be found on the Monthly Giveaway tab above. You can also enter by clicking HERE.

Until next month, stay healthy, stay happy, stay well read!

Nancy

Winding Down the Dreams by Nora LeDuc #Romance Gems

One paw up to vote for my costume

     With the days of October winding down, my thoughts churn back to past fall events, especially those important Halloween eves. As a child, there was the major decision about what costume to wear. I always dreamed mine would be the best. Sometimes, I'd even poll my family when I was stuck between choices.

One year, my aunt sent me a witch's black dress and cape that she'd sewn for her daughter, who'd outgrown it. The outfit was perfect, but I still had to get through that one dreaded moment. You probably know it. Right before I left to show off my bewitching clothes, my mother said, "Don't forget your coat." In reality, I'd rather have frozen, but it seemed you could depend on that particular night to be chilly. Begrudgingly, I'd wear my jacket, but I'd do my best to leave it unzipped or barely on my shoulders.

Now I realize as times have changed, so have my traditions. For the past few years, I was fortunate enough to work and attend the Fall in Love with New England Romance for Readers/Authors. What started out as my friend Ashlyn Chase's dream became an exciting celebration of ourselves and our stories with old and new friends.

Thank you, Ashlyn for building a growing tribe of writers and bookworms who all share an infatuation with romance books. Enjoy your retirement in the sunshine. Take time to come back and laugh with us again.   

Happy Reading, My Friends. Have a safe and happy Halloween.
   

***

October 2019 Promotion—No Tricks, Just Treats

You can still enter the No Tricks Just Treats Giveaway. (Ends Oct 31, 12:01 CDT) CLICK HERE

In honor of Every Day is Treat Day, I'm giving away two copies of my book Dead Women Tell No Lies. If you like ghosts, this is the book for you. Simply leave a comment with your email written out (not as a hot link). I'll draw the winners' names on Nov 2, 12 pm EST. I'll notify the winners and leave a comment on this post.

Please note the signed book can only be sent to winners within the continental US. If the selected winner(s) lives outside the area, the prize will be an ebook.

Dead Women Tell No Lies

Two months after her disappearance, a young woman's body turns up on a New Hampshire riverbank hundreds of miles away from home. Now the murder victim's identical twin, Rose Blue, tries to use her flawed psychic connection to her sister to solve the case. Homicide Detective Luke Lennox is skeptical of her abilities and finds the mysterious newcomer a distraction. As the department's latest hire, he has a lot to prove, and he'd learned from past experiences a personal involvement with Rose will only end in disaster.

I'll Get You, My Pretty by @KaraONealAuthor #RomanceGems

The villain.

A cackle. An arrogant quip. A threatening vow of defeat.

Villains drive our stories and give our heroes and heroines the opportunity to face fear and become the best versions of themselves. But....a good villain is very hard to write. They have to be as heavily researched as your main character, and they have to have their own motivation that actually is battle-worthy.

I find that a lot of villains are written the same way. Arrogant, sarcastic, cynical and cooler than you. This type has its place, but I love it when the bad guy is unsure, or so underrated that the hero or heroine doesn't even know to fear them.

The best villains follow-through with what they're going to do. (Up until the end, of course!)

The best villains don't monologue. They don't miss their chance. They take it.

I say, let the villain go. Let him or her win a little. This makes them believable, and, the most important thing....it makes your hero or heroine have to fight. It gives them a reason to overcome. It allows them to escape, to be smarter, to be brave.

Don't be afraid to write a silent villain, one who waits, who sneaks up on the good guys. Or one who's so clumsy that he or she gets passed over because they seem disorganized. Or one that is noisy and won't quit. I promise you'll figure out how to get the good guy out of trouble, and you'll have a better story because of it.

My first book, Welcome Home, has a bad guy. Most of my stories do, though I wouldn't say I write romantic suspense. Villains are sooooo much fun, but, thankfully, my compassion doesn't extend to wanting them to win. (Whew!)

I'm not too sure if I wrote a good villain in Welcome Home, but I did fool my father. He's the king of figuring out who did it, and I managed to stump him. I call that a win!


In Welcome Home, Emma Prescott has to prove she's not the spoiled heiress Kyle remembers. Her father killed Kyle's, and this also puts a rift in Emma and Kyle's relationship, especially since she lied to the sheriff. But she battles for Kyle's forgiveness. She starts her own farm and fights a stubborn mule, the Texas heat, a devastating tornado, Kyle's pain and anger and last...her father. It's a beautiful story of forgiveness and courage. And if you read it, I hope I fool you, too!

If you comment, leave a note on who your favorite villain is. I have a few, but mine is Malificent. I know, she's definitely got the "cooler than you thing" going on, but she actually is cooler, so I'm ok with it. If you comment, I'll also enter you into a drawing for a free ebook. Just leave your email address -- spelled out, not as a hotlink -- with your comment and I'll let you choose the book if you win!

And don't forget, this is #NoTricksJustTreats month on our blog!

Click here to enter our No Tricks—Just Treats Rafflecopter today for a chance to win Amazon Gift Cards. Enter often and tell your friends! (You can also click Monthly Giveaways on the Menu Bar of the blog to see details of the current month’s Rafflecopter and to enter it.)
 

Website   Amazon   Barnes & Noble   BookBub   Facebook   Twitter   Pinterest   Goodreads

 

Scare me - I LOVE IT!! by Peggy Jaeger

There are really only two things I love about Halloween: the candy and the scary movies.

The candy doesn't need an explanation, I mean, come on: Candy corn, Peppermint Patties?
Paleeze!

The fact that I like scary movies – and the scarier the better - is one of the top 10 things you need to know about me that I have listed on my blog bio. And when I say scary, I’m not talking about all the blood and gore crap and the torture porn that passes as scary these days. Movies like Saw, versions 1-10,000,000 and the Texas Chain Saw massacre franchise. Those movies are meant to shock you, not really scare you.

When I say scary I mean those movies that make you drop down into your seat at the movie theater, pull your legs up to your chest, make you heart pound, your ears ring, and make you cover your eyes with fingers you can peek through because you just know something’s gonna happen. You know it; you feel it; you sense it. Your adrenaline goes haywire; your hormones kick in with either a flight or fight or paralyze reaction; a scream gets lodged in the back of your throat, or alternately, pierces the air around you like an air raid warning. Your lips tingle, your toes wiggle and you can’t keep still in your seat.

I love those reactions!!

When I was a kid and my parents worked late into the evening, I was usually alone in our apartment. Back then there was a station on regular TV ( no cable back then, kids!) called CREATURE FEATURES that played nightly. I watched that damn channel every single night, alone in our apartment, a blanket pulled up over me and every single light in the house on full blast. My mother could never understand why our electric bills were so high.

My scary movie watching wasn’t only relegated to old black and white movies of the 30’s, 40’s and 50’s though, with Boris Karloff, Bela Lugosi, and Lon Chaney. Every weekend I took my meager allowance money and went to the actual movies, which cost $0.75 for a Saturday matinee.  Lord, I loved those days and those movies. Nothing really compares nowadays for plot, star power, or scare factor for me.

Some of my favorite scary movies of all time, the ones I can watch over and over again and really enjoy, run the gamut from sublimely scary to ridiculously uproarious.

In the scary scary group, I’ve got:

Halloween (the first one only. The rest were just dumb)

The Exorcist (I went to church every day for two months after seeing this the first time! – I was 11)

Scream (One of the best beginnings of any scary movie out there! The rest of the franchise wasn't scary.)

In the fun and funny group, I’ve got:

Practical Magic ( love Sandra Bullock!)

Young Frankenstein (I-gor not ee-gor)

Abbot and Costello meet Frankenstein ( I went my pants every single time when Costello tries to tell Abbot about Dracula!)

It’s the great pumpkin Charlie Brown ( Because it’s Charlie Brown)

Hocus Pocus ( Bette Midler is a superstar and Kathy Najimi flying on a Hoover is side splitting).

So, want to be my BFF? Go to a scary movie with me and watch the whole thing. Heehee

Because it’s October, the Gems are doing something a little different in the giveaway department this month:

OCTOBER 2019 PROMOTION

No Tricks—Just Treats

Every Day is Treat Day in October. To be entered in the random drawing for an ecopy of FIRST IMPRESSIONS, leave a comment and tell me what your NUMBER 1 SCARIEST MOVIE ever was, with your email address written out (not as a hot link). The deadline for doing this is 2 days from now. I’ll draw the winners name on 10/29/19 and notify the winner by email and by leaving a comment on this post.

First Impressions

By the way, in case you wonder why Authors give away books, it’s simple. We give away books to introduce new Readers to our writing. The best way to thank an Author who gives you a book is to post a review of the book. Just a few sentences saying why you liked the book is all that is needed! Do this, and we’ll adore you!

Click here to enter our No Tricks—Just Treats Rafflecopter today for a chance to win Amazon Gift Cards. Enter often and tell your friends! (You can also click Monthly Giveaways on the Menu Bar of the blog to see details of the current month’s Rafflecopter and to enter it.)

SEE YOU AT THE MOVIES!!!

Until next time ~ Peg

Coffee and Conversation with the #RomanceGems

It's time for Coffee and Conversation with the Romance Gems! So, grab a cup of your favorite beverage and join us for some fun. This month's topic is: What’s your favorite thing about Halloween? 

Is it a childhood memory, trick or treat, a super-cool costume? Maybe it’s something you do, or did, with your kids or grand kids? Do you dress up the dog or cat? (ouch!) Decorate, host your own haunted house, or watch scary movies? Tell us!

"My mother always saved old sheets. I can’t remember being anything other than a ghost. Every year I’d fill a grocery sack almost full of candy. What fun!"
~ Karen Kelley

"As someone who spent 20 years working at a children's hospital, we were encouraged to wear costumes on Halloween. I've been everything from a clown, to a crayon, to a fully-lit Christmas tree. My favorite still remains my ode to McDonalds french fries!"
~ Nancy Fraser

Nancy Fraser at the children's hospital

"As a young girl, my favorite part of Halloween was always the sparklers. I would write in the air with them. (Guess I wanted to write even then, tee hee) Fast forward to today. My girlfriend lives directly behind a house that goes all out for Halloween including a fireworks display that frequently puts to shame fireworks funded by local politicians for civic and federal holidays. We sit on her deck with some nice mulled wine or cider and gaze skyward in awe." ~ Kathleen Lawless

"My favorite thing about Halloween is Trick or Treat. As a kid, back in the day, we were allowed to go on our own through the neighborhood. All the kids were out. No one was afraid to let us Trick or Treat by ourselves. When I grew up, I took my own children out, and now my grandchildren. My son lives in a “safe” neighborhood that reminds me of Trick or Treat of old. Following the kids and watching them have fun like I used to do makes Trick or Treat fun today." ~ Jan Scarbrough

Jan Scarbrough's Trick or Treaters

"I grew up in a small town in the South in an era when little old ladies made popcorn balls, caramel apples, cookies, and fudge to give to Trick or Treaters. Everyone knew the houses where they could get those goodies that were better than any store-bought candy. I'm on the petite side, and I'll reluctantly confess to going Trick or Treating until I was 14!" *LOL* ~ Joan Reeves

"My favorite thing about Halloween has always been giving out candy to the trick or treaters. I loved opening the door to a group of ghosts, witches, princesses, and pirates. I loved seeing their faces when I held out the large black cauldron I kept the candy in (and I always made sure I had tons). The most special thing was when one of my students (past or present) showed up. Some of them knew I lived there, but if they didn't, the surprise on their faces was the best!" ~ Kari Lemor

Connie Vines' grandson Logan

"My Halloween Event is my Spook-tacular Dinner Party for my children and grandchildren. Each year the theme changes.

"My first dinner featured “Deadman over Worms” (meatloaf in person-form with a fork in the chest) served over wheat pasta with snips of parsley, bleeding cemetery cake, and eyeball, witches-fingers appetizers.

"The next year it was hot-dogs carved to look like bloody fingers served in a hot dog bun, punch with ice-cube eyeballs, dip that looked like slime, veggies arranged to look like a skeleton, chocolates shaped like mice served over cake topped with crushed candy graveyard dirt. For photos and inspiration visit my Zombie Nite Café on Pinterest. Happy Halloween my lovelies." ~ Connie Vines

"My favorite thing about Halloween has nothing to do with scary and everything to do with family fun. I love decorating with my daughter! Pumpkins, cornstalk, scarecrows, mums, and vintage Halloween decorations. Plus, our Halloween/fall village collection. We carve pumpkins - Mr. H. enjoys the seed most. Lots of candy, despite getting few trick-or-treaters. (That’s something I miss about living in suburbs) Baking and watching our favorite movies. It’s the kickoff to the holidays in Camp Hills, and it’s ALL about being together. Check out my Pinterest for some fun images of autumn and Halloween!" ~ Kathryn Hills

Kathryn Hills' Halloween decorations

Okay, it's your turn to join the conversation! Add your comments below or send via email through the "contact us” link on the bottom of the left sidebar. You can also make suggestions on what you'd like to discuss here in the future.

Thanks for joining us. Happy Halloween!

~ The Romance Gems ~

Don't forget our October Giveaways! 

Enter our No Tricks—Just Treats Rafflecopter today
for a chance to win Amazon Gift Cards. Enter often and tell your friends!

You can also click Monthly Giveaways on the Menu Bar of the blog

to see details of the current month’s Rafflecopter and to enter it.

Crafting Timeless Romances by Cheryl Bolen

Like fashion and just about everything else in life, the publishing industry is constantly changing. But one thing about romance novels that has not changed is a classic romance.

To diverge for a moment here, when I first joined Romance Writers of America in 1993, we were told every publisher was eagerly seeking time-travel romances. This was on the heels of  Diana Gabaldon’s mega bestselling debut romance, Outlander. Within three or four years, the market was glutted with time-travels, and most publishers quit publishing them.

I’ve seen the publishing market’s pendulum swing frenetically over the past three decades. Everyone wanted those slender little traditional Regencies; then all the lines closed. Publishers couldn’t get enough vampires; now authors can’t sell them. Romantic suspense was everywhere; publishers have now pulled back on acquiring them. And who remembers the short-lived publishing frenzy to acquire chick lit after the 1990s success of Helen Fielding's Bridget Jones Diary?

Classic Romance Never Goes Out of Style

No matter what the genre within our romance genre, though, a classic romance will never go out of style. What are the elements of a classic romance? It’s very simple. Two people falling in love. The reader needs to have a sense that of all the people in the world, these two were made for each other and have been waiting their whole lives for one another. They just don’t know it until we, the authors, bring them together on the pages of our books.

Of course there have to be obstacles standing in the way of their happily ever after. The tougher the obstacles, the more satisfying the reader’s reward.

After chapters and chapters of building this once-in-a-lifetime love story, our hero and heroine fall into each others’ arms and vow undying love forever and ever. And the reader closes the book (or turns off her reading device) with a smile on her face.

I hope I can bring such a smile to my readers with my two brand new Christmas novellas, One Room at the Inn (Lords of Eton series), which is in the Winter Wishes anthology, and His Lady Deceived (the Deceived Series).—Cheryl Bolen is the NY Times, USA Today bestselling author of 41 romances. When she’s not traveling to England or watching her alma mater University of  Texas  playing football or basketball, she can be found reading about dead English women. Visit her at:

Website       Facebook    Blog    

Comment below for a chance to win a digital copy of  my The Portrait of Lady Wycliff (Book 1, Lords of Eton).

To win Amazon gift cards, go to our  giveaway page here.

Treat yourself...by Judith Hudson

 

My Fortune Bay stories are all about family: mothers, fathers and children; family lost and family found; and families made up of the least expected people!

But it's not always easy, in fact I was tempted to title my bridge novella Too Much Family instead of Family Matters, because every time things start to get interesting there's a knock and the door and - more family!

Welcome to the Sandwich Generation, the one sandwiched between parents and children. I'm tempted to call it the Sandwich Gender,  because

when you type "caregiver" into the search bar of a photo website, you get theses heartfelt pictures of women (funny, always women) with their arms lovingly around their elderly charge. I'm not saying we don't love them, they're our family, but let's face it, regardless of their age, be it 9 or 90, it's not always a bed of roses.
You know what I mean.
But now, picture this! An actual bed of roses (or carnations, or orchids).

Because yes, 

YOU DON'T NEED PERMISSION TO BUY YOURSELF SOME FLOWERS!

GO AHEAD. YOU DESERVE IT!

And let's see a raise of hands - how many of you out there get the gift of flowers more than  once a year?

I thought so. Me neither. And I'm here to tell you - you totally deserve it!
And right now, with winter just around the corner in much of the world, it's more important than ever to bring a little joy - in the form of flowers - into your world.

And if you are feeling alone, that's even more reason to treat yourself!
It doesn't have to cost a lot. A $4 bunch of baby carnations will last an incredibly long time. I often buy myself a small pot of orchids to keep on my desk. Sometimes they are as little as $10, and the flowers can last for over a month.
So why not start a new personal tradition and treat yourself the way you deserve to be treated. Buy yourself some flowers today.
I guarantee it will bring a smile to your lips!

 

And while you're at it, why not buy a bunch for someone you know who might need a boost too.
Have a happy month,

Judith Hudson 

You can find the Fortune Bay series on Amazon in paperback, e-book and on Kindle Unlimited.
Or join my mailing list and get the first book in the series, Lake of Dreams, free! 

PS - There is still time to enter the October No Tricks Just Treats giveaway!  

CLICK HERE.

The Tale of the Polite Ghost by Kathryn Hills #RomanceGems

It was a dark and stormy night…

Kidding! It was a beautiful spring day back in 2011, and I was visiting Salem, MA for a writer's conference - NECRWA’s (New England Chapter Romance Writers of America) “Let Your Imagination Take Flight.” The lobby of the historic Hawthorne Hotel was overflowing with writers, all checking in via one small, seriously overwhelmed front desk.

I stood in line with everyone else, checking our watches, sweating a wee bit. It was 3:00 PM. Most days that wouldn’t be a problem. It’s a standard check-in time. But on this day, many of us had tickets to attend Donald Maass’ bonus workshop, beginning in thirty short minutes.

When it was my turn, I watched the desk clerk activate my plastic room key. Twitching, I glanced at my watch again and stifled a groan. 3:15 – Fifteen minutes. Yikes! Sign-in complete, I spun with my luggage to encounter the epic line for two tiny elevators. They were lovely with brass trimmings and red velvet interior back then. However, they were not lovely when you have only minutes to heave your bags into a room on the fifth floor, change, and be back downstairs to learn things, and be social. I’ll step back here and add I was a VERY NEW WRITER, and I was pitching my first book to an editor that weekend. I needed all the help Mr. Maass could give me!

Hawthorne Hotel, Salem, MA

Out of the elevator in a flash, I schlepped my stuff to the designated door, inserted the plastic key, and… Nothing. (cursing) I tried again. Nothing. (more cursing) One final failed attempt more sent me rushing back to the elevators to make the long trek to the lobby for another key. I fidgeted in place as I waited. Then...a hunch! I raced back to my door. Perspiration dampened my face as I stood before it. With that plastic key in hand, I muttered, “Please, can I get into my room?” I inserted the key, the door unlocked, and I was in.
Yay! That was super-weird. Now hurry!

Fast forward to later that night. I DID make it to the extra workshop and learned lots of great things from Mr. Maass. My friends and I enjoyed a wonderful dinner out, making a night of it. Everyone said their good-byes and went their separate ways. I returned to the fifth floor, slid my plastic key into the lock, and, you guessed it…… Nothing. Several tries later, I had an idea. “Please, may I get into my room?” I asked sweetly of whoever or whatever might be listening. Lo and behold…the door opened.

Each day—Friday through Sunday—those magic words were required to open the door. Without exception. The addition of “may I” ensured a speedy entrance. “Let me in!” left me standing in the hallway like a jerk. I know, because I tested this bizarre ritual throughout the weekend. Not once did that door open without a well-mannered request.

So, there you have it, a polite ghost. Or a manners-obsessed ghost? Perhaps someone’s mother, grandmother, or governess? Or just a busting ghost that laughed and laughed at the dummy in the hallway. Take your pick. I share this story because it’s a fun ghost story—not a scary one. Ghosts, spirits, whatever you call "them," are often NOT scary, in my opinion.

I’ve stayed at The Hawthorne many times since and haven’t encounter that spirit again. Maybe you will if you visit. But remember to brush up on your manners first, and “please” tell me if you do. I love a good ghost story!

What does any of this have to do with my books? Paranormal experiences spark my imagination and serve as inspiration. Visit my website to learn more.

Thanks for reading. Happy Halloween!

~ Kathryn

Don't forget our October Giveaways!

Every Day is Treat Day in October, and I'm giving away a signed copy of Haunting Highland House - A Time Traveler's Journey. I'll even include a surprise spooky treat! To be entered in my random drawing, leave a comment with your email address written out (not as a hot link). The deadline for doing this is Halloween. I’ll draw the winner's name on October 31st by 12:00 PM CDT and notify that person by email and by leaving a comment on this post soon after.

Please note: This signed book and treat can only be sent to winners within the continental U.S. If the selected winner is outside that area, the prize will be an ebook.

Wait! There's more!

Click here to enter our No Tricks—Just Treats Rafflecopter today for a chance to win Amazon Gift Cards. Enter often and tell your friends! (You can also click Monthly Giveaways on the Menu Bar of the blog to see details of the current month’s Rafflecopter and to enter it.)

Timeless: A Ghostly Adventure by Jan Scarbrough #RomanceGems

With Halloween approaching, I thought I’d tell you about my one and only ghost story. It started with a cover for inspiration. The original cover showed a man and a woman, probably in love, and a little girl in the background. Of course, I thought, the child must be a ghost!

I needed a character who could communicate with my little girl ghost. Enter Jeff Halstead, the hero and my reluctant medium. I call him reluctant because he’s not sure of his spiritual gifts.

When Beth Abbott receives a surprise inheritance from her birth mother, she travels to the family’s nineteenth century mansion in Old Louisville, now a bed and breakfast and run by Jeff. And guess what? They have a history together that they know nothing about, but our ghost does!

Writing the story was an adventure, because I needed to do a bunch of research to make it all come together.

I pulled out a couple of books from my library: Haunts of Old Louisville by David Domine, and The Great Louisville Tornado of 1890 by Keven McQueen. I wanted to use information from both books as inspiration and background for my story.

I went to the Internet for other research. It’s strange what a novelist needs when writing, and the Internet is a handy place to find that information. Some of the things I researched were Baxter Square Park (Louisville’s first park), a party game called Flip Cup, post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and the events of September 11, 2001. I also researched a hill in Louisville’s Cherokee Park where people sled in the winter. It is called “dog hill.” I investigated carriages from the 1890’s and period clothing.

After all that, I put the book together, making it a Gothic romance with ghostly elements!

Dale Epley, my friend who is also a medium, said this about my book: Timeless is a beautiful love story that intertwines two different lifetimes, and Jan has done an incredible job of introducing reincarnation and numerous other “Spiritual gifts” that we all possess in a clear and concise way that will help you to understand the possibilities, even if they are not in your reality yet.

So, if you want a non-scary ghost story for Halloween, take a look at Timeless!

Amazon Kindle

Apple Books

Kobo

B&N Nook

*****

Every Day is Treat Day in October. To be entered in the random drawing for Timeless leave a comment with your email address written out (not as a hot link). The deadline for doing this is 2 days from now. I’ll draw the winners name on October 24, 2019 and notify the winner by email and by leaving a comment on this post.

By the way, in case you wonder why Authors give away books, it’s simple. We give away books to introduce new Readers to our writing. The best way to thank an Author who gives you a book is to post a review of the book. Just a few sentences saying why you liked the book is all that is needed! Do this, and we’ll adore you!

Click here to enter our No Tricks—Just Treats Rafflecopter today for a chance to win Amazon Gift Cards. Enter often and tell your friends! (You can also click Monthly Giveaways on the Menu Bar of the blog to see details of the current month’s Rafflecopter and to enter it.)