10 Facts about Katrina Romanovski

I’m thrilled to welcome Soul Mate author CD Hersh to the Power of 10 series. Today, Catherine and Donald will share ten interesting facts about the heroine of their latest release, Son of the Moonless Night.

Here’s CD!

cdhershphotoOne of the fun things about creating characters is coming up with quirks, personality traits, and interesting tidbits about their personal background. Katrina Romanovski is one of our reader’s favorite characters. We’ve already been asked if she is going to appear in another book. Much to the reader’s dismay we wouldn’t reveal the answer.

Here are ten interesting facts about Katrina Romanovski, the heroine from our new book, Son of the Moonless Night-The Turning Stone Chronicles, Book Three.

1. She is from Transylvania but not Romania. We do solve this mystery in the book.
2. She hunts paranormals. Hates vampires. And swears by Count Dracula.
3. She wears a huge Celtic cross as a talisman against vampires.
4. She not only hunts paranormals, but she’s had her share of paranormal boyfriends. No zombies please, they’re just too creepy.
5. She is a blonde version of NCIS’s forensic scientist Abby but with a medical degree.
6. She decided to leave her father’s paranormal hunting business because she was looking for normalcy in her life. Instead she found Owen, the hero of Son of the Moonless Night, a shape shifter.
7. She is part gypsy, on her father’s side. Her mother is British. Prim-and-proper breeding war with Katrina’s gypsy walk-on-the-wild side. The gypsy usually wins.
8. She has traveled the USA as an FBI agent but now likes Cleveland, the mistake by the lake.
9. She loves Italian food but has trouble cooking it, especially when Owen is around.
10. She spends a lot of time in alleys.

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Here is a little more about Katrina from the book:

A crash in the alley stopped Katrina Romanovski mid-stride. Like the October mist swirling in off the lake, her gypsy blood stirred sending her intuition into high gear. Something unnatural was happening.

Go see what’s wrong. She heard her father’s voice as clearly as if he stood next to her.

On the heels of his words came her mother’s pragmatic warning in clipped British tones. You know what curiosity killed. Katrina pushed the ever-present warning aside. Mom never approved of Dad’s supernatural hunts and even less of his drawing her into them.

Pulling the oversized cross she always wore out from under her shirt, Kat looked around for a weapon. Please, not a vampire. I hate vampires! A piece of wood sticking out of the trashcan at the front of the alley caught her eye.

Grabbing it, she broke the end off into a sharp point. The mist-filled air filtered the light from the single bulb over one of the alley doorways. The wind swirled the loose trash around making a quiet approach difficult. Sidestepping the paper, with the stake in one hand and holding the gun she took from her purse in the other hand, she crept into the alley.

A roar echoed against the buildings, the sound nearly sending her running. That roar wasn’t a vampire. It sounded more like an animal. Kat inched closer. In the yellow pool of light from the back door of the building, a black bear, over seven feet tall, reared on its back legs and swung its paw at the man standing at the edge of the light. He crashed to the ground, shirt torn open from the slashing claws. Blood covered the fabric, and he clasped his left hand over his shoulder to stem the flow. The bear bent toward him, teeth bared in a smile. A wicked smile.

Kat aimed her gun, but before she could pull the trigger, a shot rang out. The flash of gunpowder lit the face of the injured man. The blast reverberated against the buildings. With an enraged bellow, the bear staggered backward against the wall. Shaking his head, the animal dropped to all four paws. Weaving like a drunk, he lumbered toward his attacker. The man took aim again, shooting the animal between the eyes. Animal and human collapsed on the dirty, littered pavement.

As she started to move forward, Kat’s gypsy senses crawled over her skin like angry red ants. As she slipped back into the shadows, the bear shed fur. Changing size. Then, finally, turning into a man.

Shape shifters. Her stake wasn’t any good against them, and her bullets weren’t silver. This one appeared dead anyway. Had the wounded man seen the shift? Tossing the stake aside, she paused by the shifter and quickly moved to the wounded man. Out cold. Still human.

When she touched him, his eyelids fluttered open. “Did I get it?”

“What?”

“The bear.”

Amazon Buy Links

The Promised One (The Turning Stone Chronicles Book 1):
eBook | Paperback

Blood Brothers (The Turning Stone Chronicles Book 2):
eBook | Paperback

Son of the Moonless Night (The Turning Stone Chronicles Book 3):
eBook

Bio

Putting words and stories on paper is second nature to co-authors C.D. Hersh. They’ve written separately since they were teenagers and discovered their unique, collaborative abilities in the mid-90s. As high school sweethearts and husband and wife, Catherine and Donald believe in true love and happily ever after.

Together they have co-authored a number of dramas, six which have been produced in Ohio, where they live. Their interactive Christmas production had five seasonal runs in their hometown and has been sold in Virginia, California, and Ohio. Their most recent collaborative writing efforts have been focused on romance. The first three books of their paranormal romance series entitled The Turning Stone Chronicles are available on Amazon.

Where to find CD Hersh…

Website | Blog | Soul Mate Publishing | Facebook | Amazon | Twitter | Goodreads

A Season for Killing Blondes Release Day!

A Season for Killing Blondes is officially available today!

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Blurb

Hours before the opening of her career counseling practice, Gilda Greco discovers the dead body of golden girl Carrie Ann Godfrey, neatly arranged in the dumpster outside her office. Gilda’s life and budding career are stalled as Detective Carlo Fantin, her former high school crush, conducts the investigation.

When three more dead blondes turn up all brutally strangled and deposited near Gilda’s favorite haunts, she is pegged as a prime suspect for the murders. Frustrated by Carlo’s chilly detective persona and the mean girl antics of Carrie Ann’s meddling relatives, Gilda decides to launch her own investigation. She discovers a gaggle of suspects, among them a yoga instructor in need of anger management training, a lecherous photographer, and fourteen ex-boyfriends.

As the puzzle pieces fall into place, shocking revelations emerge, forcing Gilda to confront the envy and deceit she has long overlooked.

Buy Links

Amazon Canada | Amazon US | Amazon UK | Amazon Australia | Kobo

The Wild Rose Press | Chapters/Indigo | Barnes & Noble

Thanks to the following bloggers for participating in today’s release.

Nights of Passion
Padme’s Library
NerdyChampagne
Alice’s Book Wonderland
Flame Resistant Udies Romance Reviews
Steamy Book Momma
Lovin’ Danger blog
Us Girls & A Book
Craves the Angst Book Blog
Ogitchida Kwe’s Book Blog
A Dirty Book Affair
A Bibliophobia Anonymous Book Reviews
My Life Loves and Passion
JBiggarBlog
Undercover Book Reviews
RoloPoloBookBlog
Books and Authors
Em & M Books
Marie’s Cozy Corner
Page By Page Inside-Out Reviews & Promotion
Happily Ever Chapter
3 Partners in Shopping, Nana, Mommy, & Sissy, Too!
LibriAmoriMiei

Special thanks to Book Partners in Crime Promotions!

Spotlight on Anne Peterson

I am thrilled to welcome author and poet Anne Peterson. Her journey is an emotional and inspiring one that tugs at the heartstrings.

Here’s Anne!

annepetersonAnne Peterson has to write.

As a little girl Anne felt safe climbing up in Aunt Jeanette’s chair to read A Child’s Garden of Verses, by Robert Louis Stevenson. It became a sanctuary from her abusive childhood. Again and again, she’d let his words dance around in her head, and poetry became her language of choice.

In 5th grade, Anne won a creative writing contest. And as she listened to the recording of her reading on the radio, she was hooked.

Anne learned how emotions were tied to her writing. She found the words would flow if she hurt in any way.

Eventually her poetry was sold in stores. One opportunity led to another.

In 1996, she was asked to write Bible studies for christianbiblestudies.com, an affiliate of Christianity Today. And those 42 published Bible studies led to her writing and publishing over 30 magazine articles.

But inside of Anne was a story that begged to be written. She would identify the pain that propelled her writing.

Taking a writer’s online course called Tribe Writers, she learned about writing the scary stuff. With shaky fingers she pressed submit. Each time she wrote something scary, she was really getting ready for something bigger.

petersonbrokenIn 2014, Anne wrote her memoir, Broken: A Story of Abuse and Survival. Although the book was initially the story of her sister’s death to domestic violence, Anne felt nudged to write her story as well. Her life was exposed. It was one of the hardest things she ever did, complete with times of panic. She learned to write between those episodes.

Anne discovered the value of being vulnerable. When you write the scary, messy things inside of you, you give hope to other hurting people by letting them know they are not alone.

Anne’s writing became more and more transparent. She shared her struggles with PTSD in an article, A War Without Guns. She continued learning how to embrace her pain instead of running from it.

But who would have known what was underneath? Children’s stories started flowing out of Anne. Then a new door opened. Her daughter Jessica was given an opportunity to create a children’s book. Anne was invited in.

Feeling pressure at the two-month deadline, Jessica said, “I wish we could do something with the art I’ve already done.”

So Anne sat reflecting on her daughter’s art, and Emma’s Wish came to life. It was as if Emma walked right out of Jessica’s painting to tell her own story.

Collaborations with a loved one are like a special dance where you learn each other’s moves. Anne is having the time of her life.

Writing children’s stories is a good fit. After all, she had plenty of practice telling her grandchildren many of these stories from her head.

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The Crooked House is a story about a little girl who’s ashamed of where she lives. Kerrie’s house was crooked, and sometimes she felt crooked too.

Lulu’s Lunch tells the story of Lulu and how she dealt with a school bully.

Sonny Follows His Heart is the story of a little blues guitar who discovered whose voice was really important in his life.

And finally, Make Believe: A Book of Poetry Volume One and Volume Two. These poetry books were created as Anne looked at her daughter’s photographs and let the words come. These books will delight readers of all ages.

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It’s true that many people love to write, but for Anne Peterson it’s more than that. She has to write.

Where to find Anne…

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Google+ | Pinterest

Where to find Jessica’s Art…

Website | Facebook

My Yoga Trials

yogaimageI consider protagonist Gilda Greco to be my literary twin. She’s approximately 70 percent of me and shares many of my interests. As non-athletes it took us a while to find a preferred physical activity, but once we discovered yoga, we were hooked

In my case, it took over three decades of yoga trials.

Continue reading on Peggy Jaeger’s blog.

Sneak Peek Saturday

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6 More Days!!

It’s official – The Wild Rose Press will release A Season for Killing Blondes on Friday, June 12, 2015. In the meantime, I will provide sneak peaks on several Saturdays leading up to the release.

Today, I will share the introduction to the novel..

Chapter 1 – Thursday, October 20, 2011

Three thousand euros worth of pastries. Can you believe it?

When I agreed to import the pastries, I had no idea I would be subsidizing the failing Italian economy and helping Silvio Berlusconi stay in power for a few weeks longer. Left to my own devices, I would have gone down the street to Regency Bakery, picked up some pastries and just walked them over. But my mother and Aunt Amelia were adamant. The open house for my new career counseling office needed a proper launch, one that could only be achieved with pastries from a Sicilian bakery.

To be fair, both of them were horrified when they saw that final four-figure amount on the invoice and swore me to secrecy. While conspicuous consumption is valued in the Italian community, being taken for a ride is not, and we would never hear the end of it from Uncle Paolo who is still complaining about the ten cents he has to pay for a shopping bag at No Frills.

I watched my mother rearrange the amaretto cookies, stuffed figs, biscotti, and other delicacies that had arrived yesterday. She and Aunt Amelia had brought in their best silver trays and carts and spent hours—according to Uncle Paolo—creating a colorful Italian corner.

“Everything is perfect. Maybe too perfect.” My mother made the sign of the cross and mumbled a Hail Mary.

“Relax, Ma. I’ve got everything under control. Nothing bad will happen.”

“Things have been going too well, Gilda. The lottery win. Your new career. This beautiful office. I’ve had one of my dreams, and you know what that means.”

Available for Pre-Order

Amazon Canada | Amazon US | Amazon UK | Amazon Australia | Kobo

Enter the Rafflecopter giveaway. You could win a $25 Amazon gift card.

The Adventures Never End

Welcome to my Second Acts Series!

Today, we have soul-preneur Heather Embree sharing her spiritual journey.

Here’s Heather!

heatherembreeIf you had asked me ten years ago if I would be a professional psychic, spiritual healer and soul coach, I would have never believed you. Back then I was in Toronto, working as an administrator and coordinator for various arts and human rights organizations. I had a stirring inside of me that I knew there was more to life than sitting at desks and debating about the trials and tribulations in the world. I had a spark of creativity, joy and compassion in my being that wasn’t being quenched. I also had a curiousity about the spiritual dimension and knew that I wasn’t listening to this part of me.

One day, when I looked up at the apartment I was living in on Bloor Street West (above a Bridal Store at that), working as a temp for the Ministry of Attorney General, I knew that I was completely out of alignment with my inner dreams and truth. I had managed to live a lie and was quickly going into the quicksand of the superficial modern lifestyle that I used to adamantly avoid. I was a woman who never wanted to marry, have kids or follow a traditional path. I saw myself as a feminist, a renegade, a person who wasn’t afraid to shake up the norm. I had mystical dreams, a love for people and the Earth, was an advocate for conscious consumerism and social justice issues. The bridal gowns and the culture that adores them was the anti-thesis of everything I stood for. I had to make a change.

So I packed up my life in Toronto, aimed to live at least 6 months in a beautiful city called Oaxaca in Mexico, where they revere artists, poets and anyone in alignment with the soul. They appreciated culture, food, bright colours, music, and have a strong faith in something greater. My dream was to live there, but I just couldn’t manage it. So instead, I immersed myself, escaped from my language and cultural influences and allowed myself to walk with trust, faith and guidance in my heart.

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Oaxaca is known throughout Mexico to be mystical and magical, and indeed it was. People knew there were illusions behind the poverty and suffering and that there was truth in creativity and goodness. Even in the face of political corruption, violence and everything we hear Mexico to be, there is a heartbeat that lives there so strongly. It as there that my faith in deeper love, synchronicity, and good-hearted people opened up, and I had profound dreams and experiences. I had spiritual visions, cosmic jokes and divine protection throughout my journey. I knew that underneath all of the chaos and busy-ness of life, love and the soul are the Truth, and it was each person’s journey to connect to and live from that place within. When I returned to Canada, I was forever changed. I had faced the greatest loneliness, fears, shadow side of myself and humanity and came out alive and with an entirely different approach to life. I now value relationship over ambition, spiritual guidance over human agendas, and miracles over logic. I see people’s hearts in an entirely different way and know that kindness comes in many forms and faces. I have a gratitude for the people I meet, the food I eat and the doors that open up beyond my expectations. With this perspective, I have allowed the flow of life and love to take over me and this is what led me to where I am now.

For the last 4 years, I have been a professional soul coach, energy healer, intuitive/psychic medium. Every step of the way and every day, I tune into what I need to do next, what it is I need to change. It has not been easy to listen to the soul and the spirit guidance, because we are often called to have to make major changes in our outer life, even our relationships. The experience of change and loss is difficult to bear but my heart has come to know there is wisdom and protection and greater things when I allow the natural order to take its course. So long as I listen and show a willingness to act, I trust that I will be supported in where I need to be, how to serve the greater love and movement needed in the world and ensure I’m in line with the Higher Wisdom. I’ve started support groups, had to learn about the nature of abuse, facilitated healing circles, been to sweat lodges and even ended up doing readings in Washington, DC.

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The adventures never end when one is willing to open up to Spiritual Guidance. The trick is gulping, breathing and diving it. I love the analogy that a baby in the womb feels like the end is insight as it gets bigger and bigger and the womb is more uncomfortable. It has no idea what to expect on the other side of life’s experience. This is how I see the adventure of life and death and everything in between. When you know deep in yourself nothing truly ends, love, creativity, authentic living is the Truth of the Universe, then you will be entirely supported in your journey to a new life that makes you happy. The greatest thing you can do is to take time off, listen to your soul, hear what your gifts are and what you feel called to do and be. And reach out to make those dreams happen.

Bio

Heather Embree is a soul-preneur in Guelph, ON, who is inspired to help women recover from heartbreak so they can grow in greater self-love. To find out more about her and the work she does, please visit her site here.

Joanne here!

Heather, thanks for sharing your inspiring journey. I look forward to the launch of your children’s book and hope you will consider writing a memoir of your adventures.

On tour + #Giveaway

11838450_sToday, I’m visiting with two “Katherines”…

At Kathy Bryson’s blog, I’m sharing a character interview with protagonist Gilda Greco.

And Kate Sparkes is spotlighting A Season for Killing Blondes on her blog.

Drop by and visit for a while. Remember to scroll down and enter the Rafflecopter giveaway. You could win a $25 Amazon gift card.

Countdown to Release Day

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The Wild Rose Press will release A Season for Killing Blondes on Friday, June 12.

Starting tomorrow, fifteen of my author friends will host me in a Countdown Blog Tour. I will be sharing posts, excerpts, and recipes with wonderful companions who have provided support and encouragement on my writing journey.

I’m hoping you’ll visit their blogs and enter the Rafflecopter Giveaway. You could win a $25 Amazon gift card.

Check daily for link updates.

June 2 – Kathy Bryson
June 2 – Kate Sparkes
June 3 – Anne B. Cole
June 4 – Jennifer Lowery
June 5 – Maggie Mundy
June 5 – Jo Richardson
June 5 – Ryan Jo Summers
June 6 – Sneak Peek Saturday
June 7 – MJ Compton
June 8 – Peggy Jaeger
June 9 – Susan B. James
June 10 – Kim Hotzon
June 10 – Rachel Sharpe
June 11 – Sophia Kimble
June 11 – Tina Susedik
June 12 – Stacy Hoff