Fall into Danger with Ghosts by Alicia Dean

Halloween is one of my favorite times of year. I love the weather (although here in Oklahoma it looks like it might be 80 degrees on Halloween…ugh!), I love the holiday, I love spooky stuff and the changing foliage. I also love the idea of ghosts, whether it be movies, stories, or actual sightings. Years back, I took a ghost tour in Tulsa, and wow…it was creepy. And awesome.

I’ve never seen a ghost, but I’ve known of a few incidents where I truly believe there was evidence of a ghostly spirit. One in particular sticks in my mind. First of all, let me clarify. My mother is extremely practical and skeptical. Never would she believe in anything otherworldly. When my dad passed away in ’94, my sister lived in Florida at the time. She came to Oklahoma to stay with Mom for a while, just to be with family. The first night, she slept in the bed with Mom. The next day, Sheri said, “Mom, did you feel the bed shaking last night?” Mom said, “Yes, you felt it? It has happened every night since your dad passed away. I didn’t tell anyone because I didn’t want people to think I’m crazy.” I truly believe that was some kind of signal from my dad, letting Mom know he was with her.

One of my favorite ghost movies is Ghost with Patrick Swayze, but I also enjoy the light hearted ones. Have you seen these?

Over Her Dead Body is about a man whose fiancée dies on the day of their wedding. He starts seeing a psychic, and falls for her. His fiancée begins haunting the psychic and sabotaging their relationship. It’s a very cute, sweet, movie.

 I loved, loved, loved this movie. It was funny, sweet, sad, and totally unexpected. I never dreamed Ricky Gervais could play the part of a romantic lead, and while he has a pretty rough beginning, he totally turns things around.

Ghost Town is about a dentist who has a near death experience and comes out of it with the ability to see and talk to ghosts. He’s a crabby, rude loner, and when the ghosts overwhelm him with their presence and their requests, he is none too pleased. Greg Kinnear plays the main ghost, and I adore him. His role in this movie is wonderful. Téa Leoni plays his widow, and Ricky Gervais’ romantic lead.

As much as I’ve always been fascinated with ghosts, I’d never written a ghost story, until now. My latest release is a short story with The Wild Rose Press that is part of a Halloween anthology: Haunting in the Garden.

Blurb:

A year after her husband’s death, Emily Tillman is ready to start dating again, and hopefully, find what she’s always wanted—marriage and children. But the man who broke her heart five years ago is back. And he’s anything but the marrying kind. 

Confirmed bachelor Reese Caster is perfectly content with his life—and he’s finally over Emily, the one woman who almost made him commit. Now, his world is rocked when her dead husband shows up, demanding that Reese pursue Emily to keep her out of the clutches of her latest suitor—a jerk who is only after her money. 

Being around Emily again has made Reese reconsider his bachelor life style. But now that the threat of the other man is gone, the pesky ghost wants Reese to break things off. Can he and Emily find the love they were denied, or will the ghost of her dead husband destroy their chances? 

So...what about you? Do you believe in ghosts? What are some of your favorite ghost movies or books?

My Favorite Year(s) by Alicia Dean

A list of some of my faves…

1961 – I was born, without which, none of the rest would be possible. I was born in Seminole, Oklahoma on July 1st, the same day and year as Princess Diana.

1972 – One of the best and worst years of my young life. We were devastated when we left our home neighborhood in Oklahoma City to move to a small town in Missouri. However, in no time, we were ecstatic. It was a beautiful place out in the country and, while we were city kids, we loved it. The school was fantastic; we made tons of new friends; our neighbors down the road had horses we learned to ride; and we were deliriously happy. After three months, our house burned to the ground. We moved back to Oklahoma City, and were more devastated than we’d been when we had to leave it. We ended up in Moore, where I finished growing up, raised my kids, and met my best friend, with whom I’m still friends after 40 plus years. Isn’t it funny how one thing can completely change a person’s destiny? I always wondered how different my life would be if we’d stayed in Missouri.

1975 – I saw Elvis Presley in concert for the first time.

 

1976 – I saw him in concert for the second time.

1977 – I saw him in concert for the third and final time. :(

1983 – My beautiful, smart, daughter, Lana Nicole was born.

 

 

1986 – My cute, precious, funny daughter, Lacey Jewel was born.

 

 

1992 – My adorable, funny, smart son, Presley Wayne was born (Yes, we named him after Elvis and John Wayne)

(Lana is funny, too, but she got ‘beautiful’ so the other two got funny. Of course, they were beautiful too, but…you know…)

 

 

2007 – My first novel was published with Wild Rose Press and I saw a lifetime dream fulfilled.

 

There were tons of good years mixed in amongst these, and some pretty bad ones, but mainly, there were bad things that happened in good years. But all of the experiences, bad and good, brought me to where I am today, which is a pretty great place.

And who knows what else is in store for me? Maybe the best year is yet to come. Although, I’m not sure how anything can top having my children—short of becoming young and gorgeous and hooking up with Ian Somerhalder.

 

(Okay, I guess it wouldn't be better than when I had my children, but that was a long time ago, and just LOOK at him...)

Fortunately, the fulfillment of my writing dream didn’t end with that first book in 2007, and I get (almost) as excited with each new release. I’m so thrilled to share my beautiful cover for my upcoming short story, releasing January 7, 2015 (the day before Elvis’ 80th birthday), from the Wild Rose Press.

 

Blurb:

All Toby Lawson wants is to go to college to become a teacher and to be free of her alcoholic mother and some painful memories. But when her mother nearly burns the house down, Toby must put her dreams on hold and return home to care for her. The only time she isn’t lonely and miserable is when she’s listening to her heartthrob, Elvis Presley. His music takes her away and helps her escape from everything wrong in her life. 

 

Noah Rivers has always loved Toby, but no matter what he says, she can‘t get past the fact that her drunken mother once kissed him. He soon realizes the true problem lies in Toby’s belief she’s not good enough for him and in her fear she will be just like her mother. 

 

What will it take to prove to her that she deserves to be happy, and that he would give anything to be the man to make her dreams come true?

Excerpt: 

“Who kisses better? Me or my mother?”

Noah blinked as if not sure what he’d heard. Then, a hard look came into his eyes, and he set her from him with a not-so-gentle shove. “What the…? I should just leave your ass right here. It would serve you right.”

Toby ran her nail along his cheek. “Ah, come on, Noah. You wouldn’t do that to me, would you? How about you and I go somewhere private and finish what we never did at Make Out Point? We’re grownups now. No reason to hold off.”

He raked a hand through his hair and shook his head. “Good God, Toby, what’s gotten into you?”

“What’s the matter?” Unexpectedly, a sob rose to her chest. She suddenly wasn’t happy anymore. She was deeply, thoroughly sad. “I thought men liked tramps.”

His expression softened, and he gave her a tender smile. “You’re not a tramp, Toby. For God’s sake, your mother really did a number on you.” A dark look crossed his face.  “And that bastard, Wes… I wanted to kill him when I found out what he tried to do to you. Don’t let a scumbag like that make you feel bad about yourself. Other people might hold your mother’s reputation against you, but not me. I know the real you.”

 

Easy for him to say, but he didn’t walk in her shoes, didn’t suffer the ridicule, the shame of being Constance Lawson’s daughter.

She sighed and lifted a hand to brush the hair out of her face. His rejection might sting tomorrow, once she sobered up, but for now, she was spent. She just wanted to crawl into bed and pull the covers over her head. Sleep for a week.

“Please take me home,” she whispered.

 

 

 

TRICK OR TREAT! I prefer TREATS....

I love October. I love the fall. I love the beauty of trees turning colors, the slow pace of the world, the return of football…and October brings Halloween. When my kids were little, we had the best time dressing up for Halloween. Don't you just love the way you walk around with your children as they go door to door asking for candy…treats. I think I loved it because I ended up with most of their stash of candy. I love treats. 

Do you love treats? I don’t have candy to give away but I do have books. Or I should say some of the Roses of Prose have donated to a stash of books to be given away with the OCTOBERFEST WITH BOOKS CONTEST. Last week Novel Works held Suspense Week with Crimson Rose authors. What a great time. Gave away four books!!!! 

So what treat do I have this week for everyone…COFFEE TIME ROMANCE WEEK. Everything you want to know about Coffee Time Romance will be explored. Book reviews, live chats, Coffee Thought blog, interviews, and so much more. Check out Novel Works with everything Coffee Time offers. 

Reviews are so important to authors. Reviews influence a reader's choice in their selection. You need a place to go to trust the review…Coffee Time Romance. Coffee Time Romance is great for an author because they are so accessible; for a reader because they offer so much help in choosing just the right book for you. Win-win.  

So you want treats…let me tell you how you can gain a chance to win. OCTOBERFEST WITH BOOKS CONTEST is easy. First…follow this blog, Roses of Prose. If you already follow Roses, leave a comment below and your name goes in. Louise Jolly won for following last week. It could be you this week. Check out all the rules on my blog. Giving away books every week until the end of October when the grand prize- a week on Novel Works- is given away.

As a reader would you like the opportunity to post your favorite books for a week…as an author would you like the opportunity to promote your books for a week? 

You can if you win, but you have to enter first. Like, follow, like, follow. Treats...treats...treats...

In the weeks to come following Coffee Time Romance Week on Novel Works, I have a week spotlighting an author a day including Sherri Browning Erwin, Brenda Novak, Ruth Cardello and a special feature on Novel Works, a week with Crescent Moon Press (October's the perfect month for CMP) and a week spotlighting paranormal authors at Wild Rose.

Books will be given away also at the end of Coffee Time Romance Week including those from some of my fellow Roses. Have to wait to find out just ones are being given...but for the ones that have donated check out my blog...

You will find Jerri Hines' next release, The Judas Kiss, out this coming January with Whiskey Creek Press. A historical romance. She's excited because it’s the first in the Tides of Charleston series. You will find her other books, Dream Walker and Patriot Secrets, at most ebook stores. Follow her on Facebook- Novel Works is her fan page where I recommend books, authors, blogs… She's also on Twitter @jhines340. Don't forget the contest rules on her blog. Don't pass up the chance to win!