I have a very special guest on the Observation Desk today: Kira, from Suzanne de Montigny’s latest middle grade novel A TOWN BEWITCHED. Let’s all give Kira a big welcome!
Hi. My name’s Kira. I’m fourteen and I have a frightful tale to tell about the strangest woman I’ve ever met. She showed up at Dad’s funeral wearing a scarf and boots even though it was August and carrying an old beat-up violin case. No one knows who she is in our small town and that’s weird ‘cause I’m a violinist and we know everyone who plays since it’s such a nerdy thing to do. Speaking of nerdy, did I mention I’m a child prodigy in classical violin? Makes it tough to fit in. My BFF Charlotte is a misfit too. She was adopted from China and is the only Asian kid in town. The In-Girls and their creepy friend Travis have a hey day with us.
Anyway, so this Kate McDonough whose eyes are the same piercing blue as a wild animal, takes over the town. Within a few days, Uncle Jack’s tavern is filled every night listening to her play this mysterious Celtic music. Then everyone starts taking fiddling and step dancing lessons, even the In-Girls and their nasty friend Travis. Like what’s going on? Why does Kate McDonough have this effect on a rock-n-roll town?
Then someone starts vandalizing the town leaving scary messages and a dead bird as a calling card. The authorities notice human teeth marks in a piece of organ left behind. I know who it is – it’s Kate McDonough! It has to be because it all started when she came to town, yet no one else can see it. They’re all under her spell. But not me. I’m going to get to the bottom of this before something really bad happens…
Award winning author, Suzanne de Montigny, wrote her first novella when she was twelve. Years later, she discovered it in an old box in the basement, thus reigniting her love affair with writing. A teacher for twenty years, she enjoys creating fantasy and paranormal for tweens and teens. She lives in Burnaby, B.C., Canada with the four loves of her life – her husband, two boys, and Buddy the dog. Find Suzanne at:
As you all know from this month’s #inkripples post about nightmares, I generally stay away from all things zombies, but that didn’t stop me from reading and loving Michelle K. Pickett’s PODs. She here’s today to share a little bit about book two THE INFECTED. Make sure to check out the giveaway!
Kelly Hashway (another one of those darned prolific author friends of mine 😉 ) joins us today with the trailer for her YA paranormal THE DARKNESS WITHIN. I loved the first book THE MONSTER WITHIN in this series (see my 5-star Goodreads review here) and am very much looking forward to Darkness. Welcome, Kelly!
The Darkness Within blurb:
After dying of cancer at seventeen and being brought back to life by an evil witch who turned her into a monster, Samantha Thompson thinks she’s finally gotten past all the tragedy in her life. Now she’s part of a coven of good witches who are helping her and her boyfriend, Ethan Anderson, learn to use the powers they received from other witches. Aside from the fact that Sam and Ethan are still in hiding from their old lives–the ones they had before Sam was brought back to life–things couldn’t be better. Sam and Ethan are inseparable. What could go wrong?
Magic.
Ethan’s magic came from a witch who’d turned as evil as possible, and though his coven thought he’d be fine, the more he uses his magic, the stranger he starts acting. The magic inside him is changing who he is. One minute he’s Sam’s sweet, perfect Ethan and the next, he’s a complete stranger. Even with all her witchy power, Sam is helpless against the magic corrupting Ethan. Can Sam find out what’s wrong with him before she loses him to dark magic forever?
The moment seventeen-year-old Samantha Thompson crawls out of her grave, her second chance at life begins. She died of cancer with her long-time boyfriend, Ethan, by her side—a completely unfair shot at life. But Ethan found a way to bring her back, like he promised he would. Only Sam came back wrong.
She’s now a monster that drains others’ lives to survive. And after she kills, she’s tortured by visions—glimpses into her victims would-have-been futures had she not killed them. Barely able to live with herself and trying to make things right, Sam ends up a pawn in a vicious game of payback within the local coven of witches.
But when the game reveals what Ethan had to do to save Sam, she must make a choice that will change all their lives forever.
“An intense read and original plot. Kelly Hashway’s THE MONSTER WITHIN carries a noir vibe that will leave you in chills.” ~Jen Murgia, author of Forest of Whispers
“Hashway does a great job creating characters that stir your emotions and a mystery you want to unravel.” Cherie Colyer, author of the EMBRACE and HOLD TIGHT
“Witches, lies, black magic, murder…and the ultimate act of selfless love. Kelly Hashway has a spellbinding hit with “The Monster Within…” ~Michelle Pickett, Bestselling author of “PODs”
“Resurrection has a dark price. The Monster Within is a fast paced and twisted read that will keep you guessing to the end.” ~Heather Reid, author of Pretty Dark Nothing
About the Author:
Kelly Hashway grew up reading R.L. Stein’s Fear Street novels and writing stories of her own, so it was no surprise to her family when she majored in English and later obtained a masters degree in English Secondary Education from East Stroudsburg University. After teaching middle school language arts for seven years, Hashway went back to school and focused specifically on writing. She is now the author of three young adult series, one middle grade series, and several picture books. She also writes contemporary romance under the pen name Ashelyn Drake. When she isn’t writing, Hashway works as a freelance editor for small presses as well as for her own list of clients. In her spare time, she enjoys running, traveling, and volunteering with the PTO. Hashway currently resides in Pennsylvania with her husband, daughter, and two pets.
Hashway is represented by Sarah Negovetich of Corvisiero Literary Agency.
Wendy Laharnar was gracious enough to stop by the blog today to give us some insight into the women in her YA historical fiction THE UNHEWN STONE. Thanks for sharing today, Wendy!
The Unhewn Stone is 18 yr old Stefan’s search for identity as he tries to restore honour to his family name which has long been tarnished by the Wilhelm Tell legend. From modern day Switzerland, Stefan is transported back to his ancestors, in the Wilhelm Tell era of 1307AD, on a mission to prevent the legend from happening.
While searching for the hero he hopes to find within himself, Stefan finds the heroism he seeks in the women in The Unhewn Stone.
21st century:
Heidi – sister of Stefan’s best friend Uri.
Ursula – Stefan’s unrequited love.
Marta – Stefan’s sister
Stefan’s mother
14th century:
Frau Gessler – the tyrant governor’s mother, a healer.
Cassandra – – a prophetess
Yelka – a wanton strumpet
Eva Tell – Wilhelm Tell’s daughter
Hedwig Tell – Wilhelm Tell’s wife
The sibyl – a shapeshifting prophetess.
Ingrid –the innkeeper’s daughter.
I’ll concentrate on four of these women who represent the differing cultures in medieval life and reflect different aspects of Stefan’s changing character.
The sibyl (means ‘prophetess’; ‘oracle’):
Because many peasants, in the Middle Ages still believed in Greek and Roman mythology, I modified this mythical figure based on the Roman ‘Cumaen Sibyl’ to represent the superstitions still lingering in the Middle Ages after the fall of the Roman Empire. She is the bane of Stefan’s life.
Stefan is drawn to this shape-shifter because she bears a strong resemblance to Ursula, the beautiful 21st century woman Stefan loves. The sibyl appears as a lovely courtesan, a withering crone, a Snow White lookalike and a large black bat. She mistakes Stefan for his ancestor, the alchemist, who, with her help, invented the magic orb. This orb opens the wormhole between 14th and 21st century Bürglen in central Switzerland. The sibyl needs the orb to serve her own evil purpose and pursues Stefan relentlessly to get it back. She is ruthless and dangerous, the antithesis of Stefan, the pacifist, who is forced to pit his wits against hers. He finds her both appealing and repulsive. I believe he equates her ugly side to his own ugly complex.
Eva Tell (Eva means ‘life’; ‘living one’; ‘the first woman’):
Eva is a zealot, dominated by her religion, her father and the vision of a united and liberated Switzerland. Tell’s wild daughter fights by his side and yet she is drawn to Rolf, son of the enemy, the tyrant governor Gessler. Their love is stymied by the feuding families, and family is all-important to Eva. Her courage and stubbornness fascinate and confuse Stefan. He sees her as a threat as well as a saviour. When she swaps her clean grey cloak with his filthy blue one, in order to camouflage him, she receives his reluctant admiration. In effect she cloaks Stefan with her identity. This is a significant turning point for Stefan.
Ingrid Gasparin (Ingrid means ‘fair’; ‘beautiful’; more recent meaning ‘a hero’s daughter’):
The innkeeper’s cheeky daughter also has eyes for the nobleman, Rolf, who encourages her advances. To Stefan, Ingrid is simply a peasant, a flirtatious, buxom wench in need of her father’s discipline and a long, hot bath. But the reader knows Ingrid is an innocent; intuitive and just. When Stefan learns that behind the façade she is pious and brave beyond measure, Ingrid becomes his inspiration.
Frau Gessler (unnamed in the book, but clearly she must be a Sophia because this name means ‘wisdom’):
A noble woman, Frau Gessler is the mother of Hermann Gessler, grandmother of Rolf, and great grandmother 7 times removed, or more, to Stefan. She is a pagan, a healer, merciful and kind even to her enemy, but she is quite prepared to physically defend her family when attacked. To Stefan, who is searching for acceptance, Frau Gessler, the matriarch, represents family. He needs to hear her acknowledge him as her grandchild (Grosschind) just once while he is trapped in the 14th century.
In this era where myth, magic, religion, and science collide, these women embody the conflicting attitudes of the medieval world within themselves and in their society. Their influence on Stefan is profound.
THE UNHEWN STONE blurb:
The Wilhelm Tell legend has a new hero but he belongs to the wrong side . . . on the wrong side of time.
When Swiss teen, Stefan Gessler, answers the call to restore his family’s honour, he discovers it might be easier to change base metal into gold than overcome evil in the Middle Ages with modern day ‘magic’.
With his medieval cousin, Rolf, Stefan is trapped inside the legend, caught in the turbulent events of 1307AD. Pursued by an avaricious shape-shifting sibyl and an evil knight who want him dead, he is hindered in his mission and unlikely to escape the 14thC alive.
Life in the Middle Ages is a dangerous game even for Üserwäälti, the Chosen One.
Wendy Laharnar lives on the south coast of NSW, Australia, with her husband and mini Schnauzer, Spitzli. She writes historical fiction, science fiction and children’s stories.
Several overseas trips took her to Europe where she collected ideas and information for her stories. In Switzerland, she researched her medieval novel, The Unhewn Stone, and made lasting friendship with two Swiss women who helped her with their language. Her Arts degree in English Literature and History opened up new worlds to feed her imagination and love for research.
When she isn’t writing, Wendy enjoys spending time with her husband, their son and daughter and their families. She likes to sew and knit and take Spitzli for long walks by the sea.
The fabulous Meradeth Houston is celebrating a new release, her upper YA with a sci-fi twist AN ABSENCE OF LIGHT. I love Meradeth’s writing and this one is on the top of my TBR list. And make sure to enter the giveaway. Welcome back, Meradeth!
Thanks so much for hosting me! It’s my pleasure to get to share my latest release today: An Absence of Light. I’ve always described this book as Buffy meets the X-Files, and I really hope that you get a chance to check it out!
Leah’s always seen the shadow creatures. She thought she was immune to their evil—until now.
She’s walked into a massacre, stolen a BMW, and is running from the law for a crime she didn’t commit. Nineteen-year-old Leah’s life just went from mildly abnormal to totally crazy at lightning speed. But no one will believe that the shadow creatures are framing her for the murder, because she’s the only one that can see them. At least that’s what she thought.
When Leah stumbled across a group who share her ability, she discovers they have something she doesn’t: a way to fight back. When the group offers to teach her how to kill the shadow creatures, Leah jumps at the chance. But something is brewing with the creatures. They’re tracking down the hunters like there’s no tomorrow. Leah suspects that maybe there won’t be, and it’s up to her to make sure tomorrow comes. Because she’ll do anything to stop the shadows, including risking her life—and the life of the one she loves—to keep the world from being lost to darkness forever.
Hi. My name’s Kira. I’m fourteen and I have a frightful tale to tell about the strangest woman I’ve ever met. She showed up at Dad’s funeral wearing a scarf and boots even though it was August and carrying an old beat-up violin case. No one knows who she is in our small town and that’s weird ‘cause I’m a violinist and we know everyone who plays since it’s such a nerdy thing to do. Speaking of nerdy, did I mention I’m a child prodigy in classical violin? Makes it tough to fit in. My BFF Charlotte is a misfit too. She was adopted from China and is the only Asian kid in town. The In-Girls and their creepy friend Travis have a hey day with us.
