Decker
Davenport is on a deadline. He has thirty days -- Christmas Eve, to
be exact -- to remodel a St. Augustine Victorian house, or the owner
will put it back on the market. Not a good time for Decker's
decorator to take off on a honeymoon, leaving him with Annalise
Owens, a stand-in with a malaise he isn't privy to.
But
as he watches Annalise work miracles on the house and his daughter,
he realizes the two of them have bonded in some ethereal way, as if
they've always known each other.
As
Christmas Eve approaches, Decker still sees the curious malaise in
Annalise's eyes. A haunting that even his kiss can't take away. What
secret does the new woman in his house possess? And will learning
Annalise's secret bring him and his daughter joy, or tear their world
apart?
What
readers are saying about Jackie's books:
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
"Ms.
Weger's writing style is honest and down-to-earth. Her characters are
well developed, realistic, and draw you in quickly." -- Big Al's
Books and Pals Reviewer
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
"Jackie
Weger writes fluently, understandably, makes it flow with pitch and
power." -- Read Along with Sue
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
"Jackie
Weger is a gem. I found her writing very unique and comfortable and
so annoyingly beautiful." -- Coffeeholic Bookworm
Romance
novelist Jackie Weger, is a traveler of the good earth by foot, bus,
canoe, sloop, mule, train, plane and pickup. But usually she only
gets as far as Walmart. After family, and writing, destination travel
is tops on her wish list. Says, Weger: "I like to get to a
place, unpack once and spend time meeting natives, sampling the food,
and learning about their lives and habits--whether in Appalachia or a
tiny jungle village. I enjoy sitting in grand cathedrals and on park
benches. I'm awed by magnificent architecture, frescoes and stone
reliefs. I'm just as awed walking on a beach at dusk, picking up sea
glass washed by a thousand seas or spying a fallen star. I hoard my
friends and fans and am often humbled by their kindness." Asked
what she wants most in life, Weger says: “A cave, a candle, and a
good book.”
The story of Julie Hunter was not originally planned. When
I wrote ‘Pavey Boulevard’, the first in the Island Series, it was
supposed to be a standalone novel. The vision for that story was so clear to
me, the words so strong in my mind. I was thrilled to have it published. As the
first book unfolded, I realized there was a much deeper story to Julie. Looking
back at the storyline now, and then throughout ‘On Island’, the second
in the series, I saw I was building her story all along. It was unintentional
at first, but then opportunities in the development of the first two started
presenting themselves for me. I couldn’t resist the chance to lay the
foundation of incredible growth and maturation for Julie.
When Julie’s story begins in ‘Hunter’s Moon’, I wanted her
to be tired. I wanted her to be ready for more, and yet still conflicted. She
has never really processed what happened to her, nor has anyone ever challenged
her to be anything different. On a superficial level, she is still seen as the
island party girl. Those around her are waiting for the moment when she finally
lets go.
For Julie, the sacrifice has to be extraordinary. It has
to force her to give up control. When everything is at stake, she finds the
determination to dig deep and let everything go. I believe that in opening her
heart and her soul, she makes a decision that is true and honest and really
culminates her transformation.
I read a poem called ‘The Promise of a Hunter’s Moon’ and
it felt serendipitous that it should be the name of the story. A Hunters Moon
is supposed to be a time of cleansing; of starting over. And that is exactly
what Julie does.
What is your favorite part of this book and why?
I would love to
tell you that, but I can’t…it would give away the best part. What I can say
about it, is that it is so classically Julie that you will be laughing, and
rolling your eyes at the same time. The scene was so much more than her
actions. It was about knowing that your friends (you true friends), will
understand, and love you, no matter what.
If you could spend time with a character from your book
whom would it be? And what would you do during that day?
I would totally hang out with Mia Brooks from ‘Dear
Santa, Define Good”. She is a kick-ass, world champion snowmobiler and yet,
super fun, and sweet, and smart. I would love to go out into the mountains of
Wyoming and sled all day long with her.
Are your characters based on real people or did they all come
entirely from your imagination?
Some are, some aren’t. Ideas come to me all the time,
sometimes in horribly inconvenient locations. I carry a notebook with me ALL
THE TIME so that I don’t lose an idea. I have a story coming out in 2022 that
is set in Kentucky during the lead up to the Kentucky Derby, and some of my
characters are based on the people I met while on a recent research trip. It
was fun to add people to the story that I hadn’t originally planned on. That is
the best part about writing…I get to make stuff up. Full disclosure? Jason in
the Island Trilogy is based on a boyfriend I had. I never intended his fate
when I wrote the story, and I remember writing that scene on an airplane,
crying. My daughter was sitting next to me at the time, and she poked me
asking, “What’s the matter?” I hadn’t even realized I was crying. That was kind
of cathartic for me.
Pavey
Boulevard
Island
Series Book 1
by
Rie Anders
Genre:
Contemporary Romance
When
Shaye dropped out of college mid-semester, and moved to Lopez Island
for the summer, she’d hoped to figure out what she wanted to do
with the rest of her life. Instead, she reconnects with childhood
friends Jason and Nick, and good intentions spiral into harrowing
confrontations. The summer ends in tragedy and Shaye flees the
Island, haunted by her mistakes.
Eight
years later, Shaye is forced to return to the place she’d hoped
never to see again. Now, she must face the people, and the pain she
left behind. She must confront the person she was, and decide who she
will become. Can Shaye forgive herself enough to let the past go, and
let love in?
Growing
up on Island the sister of Nick and Jason Reid was not easy when it
came to dating. All the guys looked at her as a sister and the
island's darling daughter. Evie runs the bakery and when her brother
hires Attorney, Ethan Archer, to run the Island office, she thinks he
is going to be just another friend.
Ethan
is a cowboy at heart and a gentleman. Not wanting to ruin his career
and his friendship with his boss, he steers clear of a romantic
attachment to Evie. But their friendship grows until one night they
cross the line and change their friendship forever. As their
relationship begins to grow the past comes back to haunt Ethan and
could destroy another relationship for Evie.
"This
book is so incredibly moving, and quite honestly, there are parts
that are, just laugh out loud, righteously hilarious. Evie Reid is
kind and good, and loving, and Ethan has to be the sexiest man
alive. Not only is this a beautiful story of love and family, but
holy smokes, Ethan and Evie are so sexy." - Chelsey S.
"Can
I please just move in next door to these people? In this second book,
Anders builds on the relationships of all the characters from her
first novel and introduces us to some incredible new additions to
the story. Her ability to weave them in, and make you fall in love
with them, is extraordinary. Find a couple of hours to yourself,
because you won't be able to put it down." Lisa L.
From a young age,
Julie Hunter had her whole life planned. She would inherit her
parents' vineyard and live happily ever with her childhood
sweetheart, her first and forever love. When he dies, however, her
dreams die with him. She retreats within herself, burying her wounds
under a facade of hedonism and debauchery.
Over the years, her
friends have come to accept her sometimes crass behavior. But as
Julie matures, she tires of the act. When she inherits the vineyard,
she decides to chase her dreams on her own and develop the property
into a world class resort.
Enter Dax Bentley, a
prominent Seattle investor. She finds herself drawn to his sleek,
polished demeanor. But her construction manager, Riley Johnson,
challenges her motives. He forces her to examine her feelings, and
her true self.
Julie, Riley, and
Dax find themselves grappling with a history of lost loves and past
resentments. With the future of her resort at stake, Julie must learn
that sometimes you have to let go of that which is most precious to
get what your heart desires.
Rie
grew up in the Pacific Northwest and spent her summers as a child in
the San Juan Islands.
"Pavey
Boulevard", released in 2018, is the story of Shaye Richards &
Nick Reid, and is the first in the Island Series. The second in the
series, "On Island", released in May, 2019, continues the
saga with Evie Reid, the sister of Nick, and her love story with
Ethan Archer.
Rie
currently lives in Texas with her family and returns home to the
Pacific Northwest as often as she can.
I never set out to publish a series of essays on Sherlock Holmes,
but as a trained social scientist, it evolved naturally. When I began my first
book in The Early Case Files of Sherlock Holmes (The Adventure of the
Murdered Midwife), I knew Sherlock had said, “my ancestors were country
squires.” I had to know what life was like for a country squire to be able to
write about Sherlock’s early life. As I researched, I thought it might be nice
to share this information with others—first, with those who are part of
Sherlock Holmes societies across the world and in need of items for their
newsletters; and then with those who might have an interest and didn’t know
that such societies exist.
As a result of these efforts, I’ve made acquaintances with
Sherlockians all over the world. My essays have traveled more than I have!
Dr. Sherwood-Fabre has collected these essays into her series,
“The Life and Times of Sherlock Holmes.” Volume Three has just been released,
and the first two are now available in eBook as a box set.
The
Life and Times of Sherlock Holmes: Essays on Victorian England
Box
Set Volumes 1 & 2
by
Liese Sherwood-Fabre
Genre:
Non-Fiction
Sir
Arthur Conan Doyle's stories are full of everyday Victorian
activities and events that send the twenty-first-century reader to
consult their reference books. Few, for example, are intimately
acquainted with the responsibilities of a country squire, the
importance of gentlemen's clubs, or the intricacies of the Victorian
monetary system.
These
forty-eight short essays, gathered together from the first two
volumes of "The Life and Times of Sherlock Holmes" series,
explore various aspects of life mentioned in the original stories.
Readers gain modern-day insight into the nineteenth-century world.
Untangle the complexities of inheritance, the Victorian wedding, and
the treatment of brain fever. Discover the pleasures of the circus,
the Turkish bath, and beekeeping. Such examinations bring deeper
meaning and color to the adventures of the world's most famous
consulting detective.
The
Life and Times of Sherlock Holmes: Essays on Victorian England
Volume
Three
What
do "slop shops," "scissorizing," "agony
aunts," and "foolscap" have in common?
These
and other Victorian references appear throughout the original
Sherlock Holmes tales. What was part of everyday existence to the
Victorian has the modern day reader running to references books to
discover its significance. These twenty-four short essays explore
various aspects of life mentioned in Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s
original Sherlock Holmes tales, providing modern-day insight into the
nineteenth century world. Topics include:
*Violins
*Electric
vs. Gas Lighting
*Scrapbooking
*Agony
Columns
*The
Agra Fort
*Cardboard
*Sound
Recordings
*Telephones
*Jellyfish
*Rugby
*Brandy
*The
Opera
*The
Crown Jewels
*Yellow
Fever
*Snakes
*Italian
Political Organizations
*Banks
*Diabetes
*Pocket
Watches
*Writing
Paper
*Coroners
*Pawnshops
*Clothing
*Calling
Cards
This
collection also includes a bonus essay—"Evil Women: The
Villainesses of the Canon," originally published in the Baker
Street Journal.
Liese
Sherwood-Fabre has won awards for her thrillers, romance, and
literary short stories, and NYT bestselling author Steve Berry
describes her writing as "gimmick-free, old-fashioned
storytelling."
In
the second grade, she knew she was destined to write when she got an
A+ for her story about Dick, Jane, and Sally's ruined picnic. After
obtaining her PhD from Indiana University, she joined the federal
government and had the opportunity to work and live internationally
for more than fifteen years. She draws upon these experiences to
endow her characters with deep conflicts and emotions.
Can
Dillon and Diana elude a killer while their newfound love grows?
Disillusioned
by his wife’s betrayal, rodeo star Dillon McCoy comes home to the
mountains of North Carolina to lick his wounds. When he agrees to
take over the family ranch, the Lazy M, he’s unaware danger waits.
Diana
Thompson is having doubts about her engagement to Trent Sawyer. She
agrees to leave Chapel Hill and spend Thanksgiving with her friend
Jenn at the Lazy M. When Diana and Dillon meet, neither can deny
their attraction, but both must resolve past relationships while
fighting their growing desire.
After
Dillon turns down an anonymous offer to purchase the ranch, attempts
are made on his life. When a body is found, Dillon sets out to
discover who wants the McCoy land enough to commit murder.
Award
winning author, Debby Grahl, lives on Hilton Head Island, South
Carolina, with her husband, David. Besides writing, she enjoys
biking, walking on the beach and a glass of wine at sunset. Her
favorite places to visit are New Orleans, New York City, Captiva
Island in Florida, the Cotswolds of England, and her home state of
Michigan. She is a history buff who also enjoys reading murder
mysteries, time travel, and, of course, romance. Visually impaired
since childhood by Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP), she uses screen-reading
software to research and write her books. His Magic Touch, a
paranormal romance, was released by Wild Rose Press December 5, 2018.
Her latest book, Mountain Blaze, released November 2, 2020.
Can you, for those who don't know you already, tell
something about yourself and how you became an author?
Sure. I’m C. A. Campbell, and I’ve been
writing since I was eleven and Lord of the Rings inspired me to pick up a pen.
I live in Kansas City, MO, with my husband and our three ridiculous but
adorable dogs. I like to say I have three careers. Besides writing, I’m full
time faculty at a nursing university, and a part-time neonatal intensive care
nurse. I love my nursing career, but it’s always been a dream of mine to be a
write and publish a book, so I decided to figure out a way to make both things
happen. And here I am, publishing my first novel. Sometimes, you can have it
all.
How
did you come up with the concept and characters for the book?
Funny story, actually. My characters began
as original characters that I put into Harry Potter fanfiction. I’m sure you
could find it out on the internet somewhere if you really tried (please don’t).
When I knew I wanted to start original fiction, I decided to keep them with me,
because I loved all of them so much. I had the concept of being a ‘Heretic’ --
being different than the world wanted you to be, so I knew I wanted something
along that. And that’s where I struggled for the next ten years while writing
this book.
The theme of ‘being different than what the
world wants you to be’ is something I felt as a teenager (when I first started
this book), strongly. But I had to go on a journey. I had to own that in my own
life--truly make the decision to be myself even though the people around me may
not like it. I also needed to see many other individuals--much braver than
me--who have had to make that decision as well. Only then could I write this
story that addresses the topic at the core of my own story.
How do you dare to be different in a world
that tells you exactly what to be?
Tell
us about your main characters- what makes them tick?
The Heretics Saga focused mostly on two
main characters--Shiloh Haven and Jacob Osgood--while also following three
other ‘main’ characters - and a few friends who join them along the way. In
Heresy, we get to see the POV of three of them.
Shiloh Haven is the orphaned daughter of
heretics whose grown up in a cruel place, called a Haven, with other children
of heretics. As a Haven, she has been despised and had to fight just to survive
in Arcadian society. Because of this, she lives by strict rules in order to
survive--which is all she really wants. This really gets tested over the whole
of Heresy when the survival of people she cares about suddenly depends on her
-- and saving them might mean signing her own death warrant.
Jacob Osgood comes from the complete
opposite of society. As the son of one of the nation’s leaders, he could have
anything he wanted--except freedom. Jake’s a rebel without a cause at the
beginning--doing anything he can to disrupt the perfect dance his father,
United Councilor Samuel Osgood, forces him to perform too. In the story, we get
to see what happens when he actually finds a cause to stand with and something
worth fighting for. But he makes reckless choices and the consequences will be
devastating.
Nicolette Howell is a young rebel who has
lived most of her life on the run. She’s driven by loyalty to the cause
fighting against Arcadia, but when she’s captured, she’s dumped into a strange
world where she’s unsure who to trust, but she knows she can’t escape on her
own. And if she doesn’t escape--more than her life will end.
And Val and Stefani...well, you’ll just
have to read to know a little more about them.
Do
you have any “side stories” about the characters?
Oh goodness, so much stories. There were so
many things that ultimately couldn’t make it into the book. I’m sure I’ll have
to write bonus scenes or novellas to show all the things I know about the
characters.
If
your book had a candle, what scent would it be?
It would be smoky and woodsy, with a little
sweetness-- like a fire burning cedar, wth just a hint of cinnamon. I would
call it “Smells like Teen Revolution”.
What
can we expect from you in the future?
HERESY is the first book in The Heretics
Saga. Right now, the series is slated to be four books, but it’s always subject
to change. I hope to release them all within two to three years.
Is
there something specific you want to tell readers?
I hope you love my book, but more
importantly, I hope you learn from it. I hope at the end you choose to be a
Heretic--to be fearlessly, unapologetically yourself even in a world where
sometimes that feels dangerous. Because who you are is not wrong. Who you are
is perfect and amazing. And never let anyone convince you otherwise.
Lastly,
a few fun questions: What kind of world ruler would you be?
I don’t know. If it’s anything like being a
teacher, it would probably involve a lot of hair pulling of -- “Why weren’t
they listening?” “I know they hate this new law but can’t they see it will make
them better?” “Why do they hate me? All I’ve ever done is love them.” And then
I’ll probably have servants stress feed me chocolate.
What
book do you think everyone should read?
Daring Greatly by Brene Brown. I know, I
know, it’s not fiction, but it’s amazing. Here’s just one quote of a million
from her book. “Because true belonging only happens when we
present our authentic, imperfect selves to the world, our sense of belonging
can never be greater than our level of self-acceptance.”
The advice you’d give new authors?
Self-doubt is a liar. Punch it in the face,
and just write your book.
Heresy
The
Heretics Saga Book 1
by
C.A. Campbell
Genre:
YA Dystopian
In Arcadia, being
different is HERESY.
Heresy is DEATH.
To survive,
citizens must live, dress, and even love according to the United
Council’s will. Their power is absolute—until a rebel bomb
ignites at a national ceremony and unites the lives of three unlikely
people.
When the bombing goes wrong, Nicolette Howell, a young
heretic, finds herself alone and on the run, bearing secrets that
Arcadia would kill for. When she’s captured, she must escape, but
how can she, when her best chance lies with the son of her sworn
enemy?
Driven by the execution of an innocent, Jacob Osgood, a
United Councilor’s son, hunts for the truth about the heretic
movement that Arcadia has hidden. But truth could cost him the one
thing he cannot stand to lose: the girl who saved his life at the
bombing.
Shiloh Haven, the orphaned daughter of heretics, is
forced to become Arcadia’s spy in a sinister plot to destroy the
heretic army. She faces a terrible choice: survive or risk everything
to save the boy she might just love and the rebels who are her only
chance of being free.
As their fates entwine, the three must
answer an impossible question.
C.
A. Campbell hails from Kansas City (The Missouri side, if you
please), where she shares her writing space with her husband and
three ridiculous dogs. She splits her time between writing, saving
tiny lives, and teaching students how not to kill people as a
neonatal intensive care nurse and nurse educator. When she’s not
working, she can be found (likely, in her pajamas) making things out
of yarn, listening to a true-crime podcast, or yelling at medical
errors in television shows. Heresy is her debut novel.
How did you come up with the title of your first novel?
It was tricky business
coming up with a title as the novel is two intertwining stories with different
characters, though some overlap, and in some ways, there exists an almost ensemble
grouping of characters in many important scenes. The title refers to the
lead character and antagonists of the main story-line. There is something
about the ring of it that appeals to me, though I can't put my finger on it.
Have you written any other books that are not published?
Yes. I have written
one other book that is not currently published and I am going through extensive
edits at the moment. It takes place in the 1950s through the '80s in The United States and has a strong paranormal element to it. I also have the third book, which is the second in the Phineas
Varga series, in which I've completed the outline and written several
parts, but I am now realizing I am farther than I initially thought from
completing that.
Do you write one book at a time or do you have several going at a time?
Several. I find
that writing two stories simultaneously for part of the time, at least, gives
me perspective and the ability to notice things I might not otherwise see if
I'm only focused on one work. Often, I'll take a week away from one book
to write on the other, and then when I return, things jump off the page needing
my attention that I think I would have otherwise overlooked.
Pen, typewriter, or computer?
Computer, but
occasionally I will print out a chapter and edit with pen, then return to make
corrections in the electronic file.
What is something unique/quirky about you?
I am not a fan of social
media but use Instagram for work, and I am being told that I need to start
using Twitter. I know that in 2020 this mindset is probably beyond
"quirky," but I suppose I got a bad taste in my mouth years ago when
I tried Facebook. I found myself simply overwhelmed by it all . . . the
need to "like" posts, the expectation that I should in turn post
things of my own, and the time-suck that could occur when going down rabbit
holes regarding people I had neither spoken to nor seen in twenty-five years,
etc. I know that there are many good things about these types of apps,
and by my not using them, I certainly acknowledge that I am missing out on the
daily occurrences of distant friends and acquaintances. However, I am
increasingly wondering whether the
bad that comes along with them has come to outweigh the good and if man is innately
incapable of collectively and positively wielding a tool with such power.
That being said, if you email me, I will always respond.
Phineas
Varga and the Revenants of Windsor
by
A.K. Rouse
Genre:
Dark Fantasy, Horror, Paranormal Romance, Historical Fiction
"A
brilliant and riveting vampire novel . . . showcases a complete
mastery of this dark fantasy genre."
--Midwest
Book Review
In
1014 AD, Nieve, a young Irish woman, nurses wounded Fintan, a
mysterious foreigner fighting for the Irish at the Battle of
Clontarf. From this point on, their fates are intertwined as they
attempt to navigate secrets, supernatural beings, a rival for Nieve's
affection . . . in addition to their own conflicted feelings for one
another.
Over
five-hundred years later, in 1563, the Black Death descends on the
kingdom of Queen Elizabeth I. She welcomes into her court at Windsor
Castle, a man, Phineas Varga, who offers protection. However, the
young queen soon finds that his strategy includes the use of
gargoyles . . . for she and her kingdom are to be defended against
something far worse than the plague. England and all mankind are at
the mercy of the revenant should those most ancient and evil have
their way.
Phineas,
too, has his secrets, secrets that shaped who he is and who he will
become. In his quest to rid Europe of the foul revenant, he is joined
by a young, eager apprentice, a gargoyle warrior, a female assassin
of a strange guild, and others who seek to find the source of the
revenant outbreak. It is only when mysteries are revealed, and
tragedy occurs that the reader discovers why five-hundred years is
but a short time for some.
Today,
the revenant is known by its most popular name . . . that of . . .
vampire.
Though
part of her childhood was spent in the West Midlands, A. K. Rouse now
writes from the United States' great Midwest. Memories of traipsing
through beautiful English gardens, forests, and castles during these
years provide the backdrop for her stories. Now, you will find her
roaming the verdant fields of a music fest or walking the city
streets with her husband, three children, and two Irish terriers.
