RRBC Spotlight Author: S M SPENCER

Today it is my pleasure to host S M SPENCER, 

Author of the ABSENT SHADOWS TRILOGY.  

ABSENT SHADOWS TRILOGY

What is the story about?
The Absent Shadows trilogy is the story of a young woman who wants to make a difference with her life, but isn’t sure how to go about it. When she takes a trip to Australia to spend her summer vacation with her aunt, she discovers a supernatural world that she’d never imagined existed. Her belief systems and courage are tested, but in the end it is her love and devotion that get her through. 

The book is set in and around some of the oldest parts of Melbourne, being the Flagstaff Gardens and Melbourne’s Queen Victoria Market. Most of what is now the carpark for the market was originally the site of the Old Melbourne Cemetery. The cemetery was relocated when the market expanded; however most of the bodies (some say as many as 9,000) were not exhumed, and remain there today.

The story brings together my love of the paranormal, my desire to remain open-minded to explanations of how the world we live in really works, and my deep belief in the good that resides in most people (even though we all know there are some vampires who, quite simply, cannot be trusted!)

What kind of person is the main character, Lili McIntyre? 

Lili is a bit shy, and still rather naïve when it comes to the ways of the world, but she has a burning desire to achieve something good with her life. She is most definitely not a ‘super human’ or a ‘larger than life’ character. She is just your average girl, who finds herself caught up in a world that is anything BUT average.

Tell us a little about Lili’s friend, Claire.

Claire is perfection on the outside, and a little bit of a daredevil on the inside. She is the high school cheerleader, the prom queen and the girl that always had a boyfriend while the rest of us watched in envy. She’s polished when she needs to be, but a brazen flirt when she thinks she can get away with it. And even though she and Lili are quite different types of people, Claire likes Lili right from the start, and takes her under her wing.

Enlighten us about the setting of the story, primarily the Queen Victoria Markets and Flagstaff Gardens.

The Queen Victoria market is largest open air market in the Southern Hemisphere. At this market you can find every type of food: fresh produce, deli foods, fast food, meat, fish and the list goes on. You can also find anything you’d typically find at a “flea market” or other outdoor market, including both new and old items.

The Flagstaff Gardens is the oldest, and one of the most used, parks in Melbourne. It is 18 acres of beautiful meandering paths through elms, figs and eucalypts. But it is also the site of the first burials of the new colony, back in 1835, which is why it was originally called “Burial Hill”.

Being such an old area, and one that is the subject of many ghost stories and sightings, it seemed the perfect location for a story about supernatural characters. And the markets themselves were the perfect spot for two of the key characters to work. Sam and Tom work in one of the fresh produce stalls at the market, and this is where Lili first sees Sam.

What inspired you to write this paranormal love story?

I was working around the corner from the Queen Victoria Markets, up near the Flagstaff Gardens. Walking around at lunchtime, I started sensing that this was the perfect setting for ghosts and vampires—and the story just developed from there. Of course, the late night ghost tours I’d done in the area, where I’d learned the history of the cemetery under the market’s carpark and about ghost sightings all throughout the area, really helped. And like many, I was caught up in the resurgence in popularity of vampires.

Where can readers buy your trilogy?

Only on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=series_rw_dp_labf?_encoding=UTF8&field-collection=Absent%20Shadows%20Trilogy&url=search-alias%3Ddigital-text

http://www.amazon.com/Destiny-Absent-Shadows-Trilogy-Book-ebook/dp/B00O6WL9IA

They can also follow me on Facebook at: http://www.facebook.com/SMSpencer.writer for advice about upcoming promotions as well as updates on the books I’m currently working on.

Thank you SM for joining us today!  Enjoy your SPOTLIGHT tour!

RRBC Book and Blog Tour: COLD CREEK MYSTERY SERIES

Welcome to my stop as part of the month-long RRBC Book & Blog Block Party.

As part of the festivities, leave a comment on this blog today and be automatically entered for a chances to win an e-copy of MURDER AT COLD CREEK COLLEGE or MURDER IN THE ARBORETUM.  Winners will get to choose which they prefer to receive. There will be 4 winners on this blog stop! Winners will be announced here tomorrow!  

But that's not all, RRBC is offering great prizes to visitors on participating blogs. Simply leave a comment. The more blogs you visit and comment on, the better your chances of winning. Winners will be announced by RRBC in October.

For the complete tour lineup and details, click here.

Most times, the posts on the blog are about other authors and books, often as a stop in various blog tours (feel free to check out the other posts listed on the right), but today the topic is my current mystery series:

The Cold Creek Mystery Series

So what can I tell you about the Cold Creek Mystery Series?  Let's start with the location.  You won't find Cold Creek, VA on any map.  Cold Creek is a fictitious town, nestled between Roanoke and Richmond. It's your typical small town where everyone knows everybody's business or at least they think they do. The rich live on the side of town with the country club, and the less wealthy live in smaller neighborhoods. Needless to say, there are tensions between the upper class and the working class.

Cold Creek is home to Cold Creek College, a private four-year college that primarily caters to local families with money.  There are some scholarship students and tension among them. The college, like any other work place has its own problems and personalities. These personalities are reflected in the characters of the series, and surrounding the murder of a faculty member.

What about the characters? Who is who?

Sheridan Hendley is the female protagonist, a professor and psychologist, and unintentional sleuth. Originally from Delaware, she came to Cold Creek to start over when her marriage ended. She's a strong, smart female, independent, or at least she'd like to think so. She's middle-aged, enjoys teaching, and likes to solve puzzles. She's also in charge of the campus crisis plan and that puts her in the middle of things. In her personal life, she has a sheltie named Charlie, likes to run, and hasn't had the best of luck with online dating or with the local dentist. Can helping the attractive detective change the direction of her life?

Kim Pennzel is Sheridan's close friend and fellow psychologist, also involved in crisis response. Middle-aged and divorced, Kim is much more social, gregarious, impulsive, and outgoing than Sheridan. She has a more active dating life but not always with the best outcomes. Unfortunately, her taste in men has not always been best and in MURDER AT COLD CREEK COLLEGE, she is the prime suspect when a faculty member she's been dating is found dead. Online dating anyone?

Brett McMann is the very attractive State Police detective called in to help the local police chief with the potentially political murder of a faculty member. He isn't familiar with the college. Lucky for her, Sheridan is assigned to help him arrange to interview all the possible suspects -er - faculty members. He is middle-aged and divorced, and as I mentioned, attractive. Helping him is not a hardship.

Supporting characters are many, but most notably:

Max Bentley is the obnoxious, arrogant young faculty member who's easy to dislike. He's more interested in his own research with rats and mice than teaching, students, or murder - unless the murder interferes with his research. Somehow, he manages to take pieces of information and turn them around in ways that only make the situations worse. Mostly, he's a distraction, often ranting about how administration could be better. 

Chief Barney Pfeiffe is the bumbling, older police chief. He's pressured to get help from the State Police when there's a murder at the college that may have political ramifications. He isn't thrilled but is quick to call on the State Police the next time there's a problem. Chief Pfeiffe is in favor of quick solutions that don't sully the reputations of the powerful people in Cold Creek. 

There are of course, many minor characters, whose roles are more or less important depending on the book. These include other faculty, support staff, other members of the police department, and community members. Characters grow and change from one book to the next, and relationships (especially between Sheridan and Brett) progress, but each mystery can be read as a stand alone. These are "clean reads" or "flinch free fiction" - no graphic violence or gore, no profanity or offensive language, and no explicit sexual content. 

The Books in the Series

MURDER AT COLD CREEK COLLEGE is the first in the series. A dead body is not a good way to start the fall semester for anyone, but especially the victim. Adam Millberg is a womanizer and the suspect list is long. Is infidelity the only motive? Or sexual harassment?

"It was a fun romp, well-paced and suspenseful, with just the right amount of humor, romance and intrigue thrown in."  

"The story was well-plotted and the twists and turns the story takes make it a very enjoyable read." AMAZON

In the second in the series, MURDER IN THE ARBORETUM, there is no obvious motive, no obvious reason for Justin Blake to be in the Arboretum. Many question the guilt of the convenient scapegoat and Sheridan works hard to prove his innocence. Tensions are high and Sheridan's sleuthing is more dangerous. Is it time for those self-defense classes or too late?

"The story line was not predicable, taking a few unexpected turns as the mystery unfolded."

"I just couldn't put this one down. I was hooked from the first chapter."       AMAZON

The third in the series, MURDER AT THE GRILL, is planned for release later this fall. Sheridan and Kim's favorite waitress at the family owned restaurant is arrested for her ex-husband's murder. Keep your eyes peeled for the cover reveal!

I'm also working on a second series - more on that in the future!  Thanks for stopping by today!

  

Be sure to comment and check out the other great blog stops -  for the complete tour lineup and details, click here. See you at the next stop!

Blog Tour Guest Post: D. E. HAGGERTY author of JACK GETS HIS MAN

Today, I'm pleased to have D. E. Haggerty as my guest with a excerpt from JACK GETS HIS MAN:

The Grey-Haired Knitting Detectives Go on Tour

D.E. Haggerty

Excerpt #1

“Hands in the air. Drop to your knees,” was shouted at them. Blinded by a flashlight, it was impossible to identify the speaker.

Martha huffed. “There is no way I’m going to my knees, young man.” She yelled at the light.

“Me either. I’ll never be able to get up again.” Ally agreed and put her hands on her hips in protest.

Jack shook his head but quickly dropped to his knees. Only he would get caught while snooping with two grandmas who refused to listen to the police. He hung his head and pretended he was somewhere else, anywhere else.

The cop lowered his flashlight and brought out a pair of cuffs. He started walking towards the group but stumbled when he took in Ally and Martha. He shook his head. “Are you ladies willing to go quietly into my squad car?” He asked.

Ally and Martha took one look at the cop and nodded. “Wherever you want to go officer,” Martha responded. Oh great. Now they were flirting with the arresting officer. Jack waited patiently on his knees until the cop reached him. He was cuffed and then dragged to his feet.

“Come on ladies,” the officer stated while pulling Jack to the cop car.

There were two squad cars in Damien’s driveway. Betty, Rosemary, and Rose were already sitting in the backseat of the other car. They waved as Jack passed with Ally and Martha in tow. Jack shook his head at them and looked for Izzy. She sat in her car and mouthed sorry but didn’t make a move to help them. Jack knew it wouldn’t help anything if Izzy got out of the car. She’d just get arrested as well but still he stuck his tongue out at her. The cop scanned the area to see where Jack’s tongue was pointed. Izzy immediately started up the car and, with a squeal of the tires, took off. Jack chuckled.

“Aren’t you going to turn on the siren,” Martha asked once the cop was back in the patrol car and they were headed to the police station. Ally bobbed her head in excitement. Jack hung his head.

The cop chuckled. “Normally perps don’t like the siren on.”

“Why not?” Ally leaned forward to get a better look at the officer.

“They don’t want to be seen being hauled to the police station,” was the officer’s perfectly acceptable answer.

Ally and Martha huffed. They leaned back and crossed their arms across their chests. “Well, that’s just boring,” Martha said to Ally. Ally nodded in agreement.

The quiet didn’t last long. “So, officer,” Martha began. “Are you single?” Jack tried to make himself disappear at this point but unfortunately closing his eyes and wishing he was anywhere else in the world but in the back of a cop car that smelled like piss with two elderly troublemakers turned matchmakers was a bust.

“I’m single ladies,” the officer readily answered. “But don’t get your hopes up for your granddaughters. I’m also gay.” Jack prayed for a hole in the floor of the sedan to open up and swallow him whole.

Ally and Martha clapped in glee. The officer turned around in surprise before quickly returning his attention to the road. The quick look was all Jack needed. It appeared that he’d been arrested by a man hot enough to be Mr. January in the police calendar. Although it was dark in the car, he couldn’t miss the curly brown hair and eyes the color of rich chocolate. He’d bet the man was made of muscles as well. He nearly sighed but caught himself just as he saw Ally and Martha looking at him for a response. He buried his face in his chest. Luckily, they had arrived at the police station.

Author Bio:

 I was born and raised in Wisconsin, but think I’m a European. After spending my senior year of high school in Germany, I developed a bad case of wanderlust that is yet to be cured. My flying Dutch husband and I have lived in Ohio, Virginia, the Netherlands, Germany and now Istanbul. We still haven’t decided if we want to settle down somewhere – let alone where. I’m leaning towards somewhere I can learn to surf even though the hubby thinks that’s a less than sound way to decide where to live. Although I’ve been a military policewoman, a commercial lawyer, and a B&B owner, I think with writing I may have finally figured out what I want to be when I grow up. That’s assuming I ever grow up, of course. Between tennis, running, traveling, singing off tune, drinking entirely too many adult beverages, and reading books like they are going out of style, I write articles for a local expat magazine and various websites, review other indie authors’ books, write a blog about whatever comes to mind and am working on my sixth book.

Purchase links:

AMAZON 

GOODREADS

Author links:

Website: http://www.dehaggerty.com

Blog: http://www.dehaggerty.com/mymusings

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

Twitter: https://twitter.com/denaehaggerty

Google+: https://plus.google.com/u/0/+DEHaggerty/posts

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

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7210211.D_E_Haggerty

Book blurb:

  Jack’s life is awesome. His store is making money hand over fist and his best friend has found love. So what if he’s feeling a bit restless and put out about his upcoming birthday and his ex is being a pain in his fabulous behind? That’s nothing he can’t handle. But then his smoking hot new bookkeeper discovers things at the store aren’t actually as they seem. Someone is playing fast and loose with the finances. Jack’s bestie and his gal pals, the gray-haired knitting detectives, jump at the chance to solve Jack’s problems. When they aren’t re-enacting scenes from spy thrillers, they’re setting Jack up on dates and generally insinuating themselves into his love life. They’re determined to find love for Jack as well as his missing money. Will Jack catch a thief or find love? Either way Jack’s going to get his man.

Goodreads Event Page – https://www.goodreads.com/event/show/966357-the-gray-haired-knitting-detectives-go-on-tour

RAFFLECOPTER     Rafflecopter Giveaway Page – http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/4af5be7f22/?

Author Event Chat Room – http://4wills-haggerty.chatovod.com/

Thank you for being my guest today!  I look forward to reading JACK GETS HIS MAN!

"This tour sponsored by 4WillsPublishing.wordpress.com."