I’m excited to announce that Ghost of a Threat, Book 1 of the Betty Boo, Ghost Hunter Series, is now available in paperback! You can order your own copy here. The book will be up for sale on Amazon in about a week, and of course you will be able to order signed copies from me once I get my shipment of books.
Happy reading!
Attending Georgia Garrison members with author Kevin J. Anderson
I attended my first 501st Legion, Georgia Garrison event this past Sunday. I was there as a member of the Republic Service Organization, a costuming group based on the WWII-era USO. The troops we support? Those that serve the Republic/Empire of the Star Wars Universe!
My Star Wars fandom stretches back to childhood, and since I also love vintage styles, I couldn’t pass up the chance to join the RSO: it blends my love of Star Wars and 1940s pin-up style.
When a ship isn't available, stormtroopers have to take the bus.
The 501st Legion is a Star Wars costuming group dedicated to the Empire (rebels make their home in the Rebel Legion, a sister organization). Both groups do a lot of community work, like marching in parades, visiting kids at children’s hospitals, and supporting local events.
On Sunday, the Georgia Garrison attended a book signing by author Kevin J. Anderson. I was there as a handler, which meant I took a lot of pictures and made sure no children tried to climb up a Clone Trooper. I had never met any of the Garrison members before, but everyone was really welcoming and I had an absolute blast. I’m already looking forward to the next opportunity to serve my Star Wars troops!
The Rebel Legion tries to tempt me away from the Dark Side...
Shannon over at LL Book Review posted her review of Ghost of a Threat today. I’m not going to give the verdict away. Check it out for yourself: LL Book Reviews on Ghost of a Threat
Much thanks to Shannon for taking a chance on my debut fiction!
One of the nice things about plunking your fictional characters down in a real setting is the ability to see where scenes from the books occur. If you’ve read Ghost of a Threat, then you know that Betty and Maxwell ran into a little bit of trouble after going on a ghost tour. When my husband and I went to Savannah to visit my mom for Christmas, I got a picture of the alley across the street from The Lucas Theatre:
My feet were frozen in place, and Maxwell squeezed my hand reassuringly. “It’s okay, Betty, come on,” he said, though his voice had a twinge of worry. My first thought was that we were being mugged, but I always thought those guys just grabbed your valuables and ran. Instead, we were being led somewhere. My heart caught in my throat when I realized that this man must be a demon hunter, maybe even the same one who had broken into my apartment twice and called to warn me about Maxwell. I hadn’t listened to him, and now I was going to face the same fate that was in store for Maxwell.
I stepped into the alley with him, and it felt like a curtain had been lowered behind us as we sank into the darkness of the narrow space.
Happy New Year, all! I know I’m a bit late with the well-wishes, but I’ve been doing my best to make my vacation last until the absolute final minute. I hope everyone had a joyous holiday season, and here’s to making 2012 a year of joy and prosperity!
As for me, my goals are still to write well and write often. I’m currently working on book three in the Betty Boo, Ghost Hunter Series (Ghost of a Memory), and after that I’ll have book four, the final installment, to write. I will also be publishing my young adult steampunk novel, Manifest. It’s written and undergoing editing currently.
I only have one resolution for 2012: to write, sew and exercise every day, even if I only have a few minutes for each. I’ve got books to publish, a tricky costume to produce, and a body that needs to be in better shape!
What are your New Year’s Resolutions?
Chenda and the Airship Brofman by Emilie P. Bush
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This book really drew me in, and I found myself staying up until 1:30 a.m. on several occasions because I just couldn’t put it down. Ms. Bush has done an excellent job building a believable world, where the steampunk elements fit seamlessly into the narrative. The back stories for the Republic and Empire, as well as for the characters themselves, lend an air of realism to the story. This book was a really fun adventure from start to finish, and Ms. Bush let us see Chenda’s development from a naive, sheltered girl to a strong, confident woman. I’ve already bought The Gospel According to Verdu and look forward to reading it.
View all my reviews
To celebrate the debut of Ghost of a Whisper: Book 2 of the Betty Boo, Ghost Hunter Series, I thought I’d share an excerpt from the book. In this scene, Betty and her demon boyfriend Maxwell are leaving a Halloween party at Fort Pulaski, a Civil War-era fort outside Savannah. Ghost of a Whisper is available for the Kindle, Nook and iPad/iPhone. Enjoy!
The wind calmed momentarily, and then I felt a sudden, sharp breeze across my face. Something dark shot past my line of vision at the same time I felt Maxwell’s entire body tense. He released my hand and shoved me in the direction of the parking lot.
“Run, Betty!”
I didn’t know what was happening. I stumbled a few steps away before turning to look back. Maxwell was facing the edge of the marsh off to his right. There, fifty yards away, a man stepped out of the shadows. His broad frame was covered by a long coat, and he had a bow in one hand. His other hand reached over his head to pluck another arrow from his quiver.
A demon hunter.
He ran swiftly despite his size and began to close the gap between himself and Maxwell.
“No!” I shouted. I should have stayed quiet, but the sound escaped my lips before I could react.
The hunter’s gaze flicked briefly from Maxwell to me.
“She’s not the one you want,” Maxwell’s voice was loud, but I could hear the fear in it. “She’s innocent.”
Maxwell turned and ran across the grass toward the river. I knew he was trying to draw the hunter away from me. I also knew that I should run, just like he’d told me to.
Instead, I stood, too shocked to move, as the hunter sprinted after Maxwell.
Whether by chance or some demonic ability, Maxwell quickly outpaced the hunter. The hunter finally stopped running, but he didn’t give up. He dropped to one knee and fitted his arrow to his bowstring.
I lunged forward, shouting incoherently and praying I could reach the hunter in time. But over the sound of my shouts and my feet scrunching through the grass, I heard a soft “thwap.” The arrow rocketed out of the bow and sailed for Maxwell. I watched, horrified, as Maxwell’s body crumpled, disappearing over a small rise in the ground.
I ran right past the hunter without stopping. I had no regard for him or for my safety. My thoughts were focused on nothing but Maxwell.
When I crested the rise, I saw Maxwell’s clothes lying in a heap on the ground. The arrow had pierced his vest. Maxwell’s body was gone.
Today is debut day for Ghost of a Whisper, Book 2 of the Betty Boo, Ghost Hunter Series! This book picks up where Ghost of a Threat left off, and I’m really excited to share it with readers. I actually like it better than book one! I learn more about the craft of writing with each manuscript, and the story for this one was especially exciting for me (though a few characters really upset me with their actions).
Ghost of a Whisper is available on Amazon for Kindle readers, and you can buy it on iTunes for your iPhone or iPad. It’s only $2.99. Enjoy!
Synopsis
Life is good for Betty “Boo” Boorman. Things are going great with her demon boyfriend Maxwell, and her paranormal investigation team is busier than ever as Halloween approaches. But things go to hell—literally—when Maxwell is banished by a demon hunter. As Betty tries to cope with her grief, another demon enters her life, and he offers her a deal: Betty’s soul for Maxwell’s rescue. Time is running out for Betty to make a decision, and the ghosts of Savannah, Georgia, aren’t making the task any easier. Cryptic messages from the ghost of a little girl seem to be directed at Betty, but are they a warning or a plea for help?
Ghost of a Whisper, Book 2 of the Betty Boo, Ghost Hunter Series, is now available for pre-sale on iTunes! If you read ebooks on your iPad or iPhone, you can reserve your copy now for $2.99. You can also download a sample and read the first few chapters.
Synopsis
Life is good for Betty “Boo” Boorman. Things are going great with her demon boyfriend Maxwell, and her paranormal investigation team is busier than ever as Halloween approaches. But things go to hell—literally—when Maxwell is banished by a demon hunter. As Betty tries to cope with her grief, another demon enters her life, and he offers her a deal: Betty’s soul for Maxwell’s rescue. Time is running out for Betty to make a decision, and the ghosts of Savannah, Georgia, aren’t making the task any easier. Cryptic messages from the ghost of a little girl seem to be directed at Betty, but are they a warning or a plea for help?
If you haven’t read Book 1 yet, you can purchase Ghost of a Threat on iTunes, Amazon and Barnes & Noble.
The following is from my book “Georgia Spirits and Specters.” Listen to the fantastic EVP that Historic Ghost Watch captured!
Hot Dog Heaven is an eatery housed in an unassuming little building in Woodstock, a busy small town off Interstate 575 about an hour north of Atlanta. The Main Street building is on the site of the city’s former post office, and the former postmaster is still keeping an eye on things.
The original building is long gone, and the early 1900s structure that is on that lot now has housed a number of businesses, including a tea room, before anyone started serving up hot dogs there. The staff invited Historic Ghost Watch to investigate after a number of unexplainable occurrences, including odd noises and doors that seemed to open of their own accord.
Over the years, the staff at Hot Dog Heaven decided that the resident ghost is that of a former postmaster. The reasoning behind this has to do with the ghost’s upkeep of the restaurant. The post office had a rule that no signs could be posted in the front window. Today, any flyers posted in the window are likely to be taken down overnight by unseen hands.
When Historic Ghost Watch held their investigation, the most definitive piece of evidence is an EVP that surprised everyone because of its clarity. Unlike many EVPs, in which the disembodied voices are difficult to hear and their words even harder to interpret, this one is loud and clear. A male with a strong Southern accent is heard saying, “Yes, ma’am!”
The voice is so clear that Historic Ghost Watch Director Kevin Fike says it’s one of the best EVPs he’s ever heard. If you want to hear the former postmaster for yourself, you can listen to the recording online at www.historicghost.com. If you’d rather go chow down on a hot dog and hope to hear the agreeable postmaster for yourself, you can stop by Hot Dog Heaven at 8558 Main Street in downtown Woodstock.
