Dark and Stormy romance

Happy Holidays! Cleopatra's Secret on sale for .99 cents.

2011-12-14T13:01:00.002-05:00

Happy Holidays! For all you lucky people who receive an ereader as a gift, Cleopatra's Secret: Keepers of the Light will be on sale from now through January 1st for just .99 cents.

Health, Wealth and Happiness to you all this holiday season!

11:11 and November 11th 2011

2011-11-05T16:32:00.001-04:00

I have been haunted by the digits 11:11 for over ten years now. Where ever I went they seemed to follow me around, showing up on dinner checks and clock faces. Not to get too personal, by my nurse even announced in a loud voice just as my water broke while giving birth to my beautiful child that the time was exactly 11:11.

I thought it was just my own personal thing between myself and the universe or my good angels. But low and behold, I eventually discovered that this is a world wide phenomena. There are many websites, books, films and even political movements associated with 11:11. Go ahead and Google it and you'll be amazed!

For my own part, I just try to pause and say a prayer when ever I see the familiar numbers popping up and I find they creep into my writing quite a bit too. Cleopatra's Secret: Keepers of the Light does not have 11:11 coded into it, and yet, I feel the very nature of the esoteric teachings of the ancient pharaohs and their priests do have a link to sacred math and geometry.

So in honor of the upcoming day 11/11/11, Cleopatra's Secret: Keepers of the Light will be absolutely free to download on Amazon for that one day only. I hope you enjoy it!

And next time you see 11:11, I pray you will pause and turn your thoughts to the Light. Maybe I'll be sharing the moment with you in my own little corner of the world.

UPDATE: Amazon will not allow me to give away Cleo for free. My sincerest apologies and hopes that my dear readers will have a great 11/11/11 anyway!

Final Days of 99 cents sale for Cleopatra's Secret

2011-08-31T21:18:00.002-04:00

The 99 cents sale for Cleopatra's Secret: Keepers of the Light ends after Labor Day. So if you were thinking of downloading a copy, now's the time to get it while it's cheap! The ebook can be purchased at: Amazon
Barnes & Noble
Smashwords

Enjoy the last days of summer!

Cleopatra's Secret: Keepers of the Light on sale for .99 cents until Labor Day

2011-08-13T19:14:00.003-04:00

Just in time for summer's last lazy days, Cleopatra's Secret: Keepers of the Light is on sale for just .99 cents until Labor Day.

Hidden beneath aveil of incense inside Egypt’s most sacred temple lies the door to a secretchamber Cleopatra must guard with her life. Within resides an ancient mystery the pharaohs and their high priests,The Keepers of the Light, have protected for thousands of years.

But with therise of Rome’s first Emperor, Augustus Caesar, Cleopatra is forced to fight tosave her sacred order from the Roman invaders. If she fails, the brutal Emperor will twist the light The Keepers guardinto a fierce darkness, laying waste to the world and destroying the harmony ofthe universe forever.

Can she trustanother Roman, Marc Antony, the lover who has blinded her with desire, even asAugustus and his legions stand poised at the gates of Alexandria? And will her soul-stirring passion for Antonyendure when Cleopatra is forced to sacrifice her life for the secret she issworn to protect?

Read an excerpt, or buy now, at:

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

Smashwords

Self Publishing - Cleopatra's Secret: Keepers of the Light

2011-07-16T15:25:00.004-04:00

When my firstnovel, Moonlight On Diamonds,received an offer for publication from The Wild Rose Press, I was thrilled and wenton to have a great experience with my publisher.

But the curiosity is killingme. So I'm taking the leap into selfpublishing with my new historical fantasy romance, Cleopatra's Secret: Keepers of the Light.

The allure of total control over myproduct was the first enticement. As anatural-born control freak, I love knowing I have final say over my cover,distribution and release schedule.

I also like the idea that I canprice my book at $1.99 and make it accessible to lots and lots of readers, because,let's face it, we're still in a recession.

I agonized over the whole, Kindlevs. Smashwords vs. Nook thing. To DRM ornot to DRM? At the end of the day, Idecided to go with Kindle, Smashwords andNook and just let go of the whole DRM debate. If people are going to pirate your book, they're going to pirate yourbook. C'est la guerre! At $1.99, I hope most people will choose tobuy it.

Cleopatra'sSecret: Keepers of the Light comes out in August. So stay tuned for more on the upcomingrelease!

Empire State Book Festival April 2nd at the Egg

2011-03-31T15:27:00.004-04:00

This Saturday, April 2nd, I'll have the pleasure of speaking on a romance writer's panel at the Empire State Book Festival. Come join me!

Writing Under the Covers: Breaking into Romance:
Learn what you need to know to break into the 21^st century world of romance publishing. Bonnie Hazard will moderate this panel from the Albany chapter of Romance Writers of America. Ebooks are the fastest growing segment of the romance market, and several of these authors have had bestselling titles for the Amazon Kindle. Hear from Lydia Storm, Jean C. Gordon, K.A. Mitchell, and Lisa Lewis.

The second annual Empire State Book Festival, an initiative of the Empire State Center for the Book, takes place April 1-2, 2011 in Albany, New York. Presented by the New York Library Association (NYLA), this free, family-friendly educational event celebrates New York State writers, literature and literacy. It takes place at the Empire State Convention Center Meeting Rooms and Base of the Egg

Events Include:

Author talks * Writing Panels * Books available for sale and autographing * Antiquarian Booksellers * Meet your favorite children’s author or illustrator * Children’s book characters

ADMISSION IS FREE AND THE PUBLIC IS WELCOME

For more information visit online at www.empirestatebookfestival.org

Elizabeth Taylor in her Jewels

2011-03-23T19:51:00.007-04:00

While researching my jewel thief novel, Moonlight on Diamonds, I had the pleasure of spending hours reading about famous gems and their glamorous owners. I had the most fun researching Elizabeth Taylor and her treasures. She had a rare, almost spiritual, appreciation for the power of diamonds, sapphires and emeralds. The extraordinary Burton-Taylor diamond even bears her name linked with that of the great love of her life. With her passing, an era of old Hollywood beauty and glamour fades more distinctly into the past.
Rest in peace Liz!

Happy Dark and Stormy Valentine's Day

2011-02-14T15:13:00.002-05:00

In keeping with the spirit of Valentine's, Dark and Stormy has assembled a few favorite tortured lovers. Here are some of the most deliciously brooding heros and passionate heroines, all caught up in a love which (for some reason or other) they can never have. Yet they cannot resist the siren call of the beloved, and despite the consequences, abandoned themselves to Love - though some of our couples do have to wait for the afterlife to find eternal bliss.

In no particular order: My Favorite Tortured Lovers.

Maxim de Winter and his poor little bride fight the ghost of Rebecca.

Antony and Cleopatra - perhaps the most famous tortured lovers of all time, played by real life tortured lovers, Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor

Bram Stoker's Count Dracula and his soulmate, Mina, take ill-starred love to paranormal extremes.

Saving my favorite for last, Cathy and Heathcliff give us all the tear-jerking drama a true romantic could crave in Wuthering Heights. And nobody broods like Olivier!

Great Christmas Reads

2010-12-23T23:24:00.001-05:00

If you're looking for a few last minute stocking-stuffers, or just a great Yuletide tome to curl up by the fire with this Christmas, here are a few suggestions.

Of course the first, and most obvious choice for this Dark and Stormy blog, has to be the perennial classic, A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens. With fantastic passages like the one below, this story manages to capture the spirit of Christmas (no pun intended), while also maintaining a suitably brooding and gothic atmosphere for those of us inclined towards moody gaslight romanticism.

Once upon a time -- of all the good days in the year, on Christmas Eve -- old Scrooge sat busy in his counting-house. It was cold, bleak, biting weather: foggy withal: and he could hear the people in the court outside go wheezing up and down, beating their hands upon their breasts, and stamping their feet upon the pavement stones to warm them. The city clocks had only just gone three, but it was quite dark already -- it had not been light all day: and candles were flaring in the windows of the neighbouring offices, like ruddy smears upon the palpable brown air. The fog came pouring in at every chink and keyhole, and was so dense without, that although the court was of the narrowest, the houses opposite were mere phantoms. To see the dingy cloud come drooping down, obscuring everything, one might have thought that Nature lived hard by, and was brewing on a large scale.

My second recommendation, Mary Balogh's A Christmas Promise, is quite possibly the best Christmas regency romance of all time. Full of angsty passion, jolly times at a snow-covered country estate and an ending so heartwarming it brings tears to your eyes, this book has become a holiday classic.

If you're in the mood to download a more whimsical holiday treat, try out Sweet Inspiration by Penny Watson. Christmas elves, Santa and one fabulous romance!

Merry Christmas!

5 great books to be thankful for

2010-11-23T21:12:00.002-05:00

As Thanksgiving approaches, I wanted to give thanks for the hours of pleasure I derived from 5 books I read this year. Listed here, in no particular order, are my favorite reads of 2010.

1) Gail Carriger's debut novel Soulless

Witty and fun streampunk at its best!

2) Sepulchre by Kate Mosse

Gothic supernatural suspense set in a remote estate in Provence. Wonderful!

3) The Strangely Beautiful Tale of Miss Percy Parker by Leanna Renee Hieber

A lovely sweeping gaslight romance set in Victorian London. No wonder they're making a Broadway musical out of it!

4) Magic Under Glass by Jaclyn Dolamore

YA steampunk with echos of Jane Eyre. I was up till 4 a.m. reading this book.

5) Tears of Pearl by Tasha Alexander

Victorian suspense set in a Sultan's harem. Book 4 in the amazing Lady Emily series.

What are some of the books you're grateful for this year?

Dark Shadows Fabulousness

2010-10-29T19:59:00.000-04:00

What better way to wish the Dark and Stormy Blog readers a Happy Halloween then to feature the world’s best vampire series ever. Yes, better than Twilight. Better than True Blood. The series is Dark Shadows. You can now watch every single one of the 1,225 episodes on Netlflix.

The 1960s gothic soap opera came into being when creator, Dan Curtis, had a dream about a young woman taking a long train ride to a spooky mansion. The series features old school vampires, ghosts and witches with all the 19^th century romanticism and restraint so painfully lacking in today’s, show-it-all-leave-absolutely-no-mystery-what-so-ever, vampire media.

The cobweb decked chandeliers, the deep mists, hidden family crypts and unfulfilled longings that create such an amazing atmosphere set the backdrop for one cliff-hanging episode after another. I found myself hitting the Netflix Next Episode button like a little crack monkey after each installment.

The earlier episodes are shot in black and white, which works wonderfully with the dramatic lighting and haunted vibe of the gothic sets. The fact that the boom is often in the shot and the actors regularly flub their lines only adds to the entertainment value.

Tim Burton and Johnny Dep are clearly fans too, since they’re scheduled to begin shooting their own feature adaptation of the cult soap in February 2011. I’ll be first on line to buy tickets when the film comes out!

For more information visit the official Dark Shadows site:

http://www.collinwood.net/

Happy Birthday Agatha Christie!

2010-09-14T20:59:00.001-04:00

Agatha Christie's works are still as fresh and page-turning as they were when she first started writing almost one hundred years ago. I recently re-read The Mirror Cracked and try as I would, I could not figure out who dunnit until the big reveal. She was, quite simply, a genius. Happy Birthday Agatha!

AMAZING FACTS ABOUT AGATHA CHRISTIE:

Born September 15^th, 1890

Wrote 80 crime novels and short story collections, 2 autobiographies and 8 novels under the pseudonym Mary Westmacott

UK’s best loved crime author according to Costa Coffee national book survey 2008

8th most borrowed author in UK libraries

Has sold more than 2 billion books worldwide

Best selling female author in the world – second only to Shakespeare and The Bible

Most translated author

Official Bio from www.Agathachristie.com

Agatha Mary Clarissa Miller was born on 15 September 1890 in Torquay, Devon, South West England. Agatha loved to read English poetry and began writing poems when she was a child.

In 1912 Agatha met Archie Christie, a qualified aviator who had applied to join the Royal Flying Corps, they soon married. It was war time and Agatha became a nurse at the Red Cross Hospital in Torquay. When the Hospital opened a dispensary, she accepted an offer to work there and completed the examination of the Society of Apothecaries. Thus began her life long interest in the use of poisons. From this came her first novel The Mysterious Affair at Styles. The method of death in this novel is poison and was so well described that Agatha received an unprecedented honour for a writer of fiction - a review in the Pharmaceutical Journal.

During the First World War there were Belgian refugees in most parts of the English countryside, Torquay being no exception. Although he was not based on any particular person, Agatha thought that a Belgian refugee, a former great Belgian policeman, would make an excellent detective for The Mysterious Affair at Styles. Hercule Poirot was born.

1919 was a momentous year for Agatha. With the end of the war, Archie had found a job in the City and they had just enough to rent a flat in London and later that year on the 5th August, Agatha gave birth to their daughter, Rosalind. Also that year the publisher, John Lane, who had liked The Mysterious Affair at Styles contracted Agatha to produce five more books. She went on to be one of the first authors Penguin ever published, with fantastic results.

Following the war Agatha continued to write and to travel with Archie, though sadly they were later to divorce and Agatha would remarry, Max Mallowan, the world famous archaeologist - a marriage that would last forty-six years.

By 1930, having written several novels and short stories, Agatha created a new character to act as sleuth. Miss Jane Marple was an amalgam of several old ladies Agatha used to meet in villages she visited as a kid. When she created Miss Marple, Agatha did not expect her to become Poirot's rival, but with The Murder at the Vicarage, Miss Marple’s first outing, it appeared she had produced another popular and enduring character.

One of Agatha’s lifelong ambitions had been to travel on the Orient Express; her first journey took place in 1928. The atmosphere of the Middle East was not lost on Agatha, as can be recognised in books such as Murder on the Orient Express, Death on the Nile, Murder in Mesopotamia, Appointment With Death and They Came to Baghdad as well as many short stories.

After a hugely successful career and a very happy life Agatha died peacefully on 12 January 1976.

Great Agatha Christie Quotes:

“Very few of us are what we seem.”

“Every murderer is probably someone’s old friend.”

“An archaeologist is the best husband a woman can have. The older she gets the more interested he is in her.”

“Crime is terribly revealing. Try and vary your methods as you will, your tastes, your habits, your attitude of mind, and your soul is revealed by your actions.”

Which retelling of Dracula from Mina's perspective should I read next?

2010-09-01T21:47:00.008-04:00

What’s a gothic romance lover, like myself, to do when there are not one, but two recent novels out featuring Bram Stoker’s Dracula story retold from Mina’s perspective?

The first is Dracula In Love by Karen Essex and the second is Dracula My Love: The Secret Journals of Mina Harker by Syrie James.

Dracula In Love sports a perfectly atmospheric cover with lots of lovely swirly mists and a Victorian heroine running through a graveyard. It’s also supposedly on the literary side with lots of steamy sex so…what’s not to like about that?

Here’s the back cover blurb:

From the shadowy banks of the River Thames to the wild and windswept coast of Yorkshire, the quintessential Victorian virgin Mina Murray vividly recounts in the pages of her private diary the intimate details of what transpired between her and Count Dracula—the joys and terrors of a passionate affair and her rebellion against a force of evil that has pursued her through time.

Mina’s version of this timeless gothic vampire tale is a visceral journey into the dimly lit bedrooms, mist-filled cemeteries, and locked asylum chambers where she led a secret life, far from the chaste and polite lifestyle the defenders of her purity, and even her fiancé, Jonathan Harker, expected of her.

Bram Stoker’s classic novel was only one side of the story. Now, for the first time, Dracula’s eternal muse reveals all. What she has to say is more sensual, more devious, and more enthralling than ever imagined. The result is a scintillating gothic novel that reinvents the tragic heroine Mina as a modern woman tortured by desire.

Sounds fabulous! But I’m liking Dracula My Love too. For one thing, this book promises secret journals and I’m all about secret journals. The front cover is dark and elegant and, to judge a book by its cover, I prefer it to the one for Dracula In Love.

Here’s the blurb:

In Dracula, My Love: The Secret Journals of Mina Harker, Syrie James explores these questions and more. A vibrant dramatization, told from Mina’s point of view, brings to life the crucial parts of Stoker’s story while showcasing Mina’s sexual awakening and evolution as a woman, and revealing a secret that could destroy her life. Torn between two men—a loving husband and a dangerous lover—Mina struggles to hang on to the deep love she’s found within her marriage, even as she is inexorably drawn to Dracula himself—the vampire that everyone she knows is determined to destroy.

So which one to choose?

Free book give-away contest

2010-08-20T19:54:00.000-04:00

Summer’s lolling luxurious days may be coming to an end, but you don’t have to give up a relaxing escape – even if it is between the covers of a book. From now until Labor Day answer the question below to be entered to win a free copy of Moonlight On Diamonds.

CONTEST QUESTION: What rare jewel is catching John and Nicholas’s attention in the excerpt below? Leave your answer as a blog comment to be entered to win.

Moonlight on Diamonds Excerpt

John met Veronica in the hotel lobby at a

quarter to eight. He was there first, nervously

drumming his fingers against a fluted column,

craving a cigarette, craving a shot of Maker’s

Mark, but just drumming his fingers instead and

watching the posh crowd mill around.

The elevator doors opened and there was

Veronica. She wore a dark red strapless dress

that clung to her curves. Her lips and nails were

red, too, and her dark hair fell loose around her

shoulders. A massive diamond-and-ruby necklace

lay propped against the tops of her breasts, which

swelled out of her dress provocatively. The

necklace was the only jewelry she wore, but it

was enough. Strands of glittering icy diamonds

laced around her throat like a sparkling spider’s

web, and the eye-popping, pear-cut ruby glittered

devilishly, a perfect pigeon’s blood red. If Veronica

had attached a roaring police siren around her

neck she couldn’t have attracted more attention.

She smiled when she caught John staring.

But he wasn’t the only one.

Veronica’s eyes flickered over to a tall, thin

man in a tuxedo; his dark hair was greased back

and he wore a white flower in his lapel and a

blonde DC debutante on his arm. John narrowed

his eyes as he realized who the man was. There

was no mistaking Nicholas Bezuhov, also known

on the jewel thief circuit as the White Russian.

Nicholas must have seen him, too, and he

would certainly know John after all the years of

cat-and-mouse they had played together. Of

course, it was also possible Nicholas was just

getting an eyeful of Veronica and her big ruby

necklace. Either way, John didn’t like it.

Neither did the blond debutant. “Come on,

Nicky,” she said in her cool, boarding-school

voice. “We’ll be late for dinner.”

With a polite nod, Nicholas moved on. The

debutante gave Veronica an icy stare as they

passed her on the way into the elegant dining

room, which was already full of senators, foreign

diplomats, and the occasional well-heeled tourist

who came to see where the Washington power

brokers broke their bread.

Veronica sized up the blonde and dismissed

her in the blink of an eye. Then she walked to

John who was still staring after Nicholas

Bezuhov.

“Do you know that man?” she asked,

following his gaze.

“He calls himself Prince Bezuhov,” said John,

disgust seeping into his voice. “Fancies himself

some kind of Russian aristocrat, but according to

our records, he’s pure peasant masquerading as

the great-grandson of the Grand Duchess

Anastasia like all the rest of the Euro-trash he

runs with.”

She raised a manicured brow. “I get the

impression you don’t like him.”

“I don’t like phonies and he’s one of the

worst. I didn’t like the way he was eyeing your

rocks either.”

She patted his arm. “Well, that’s what I have

you for—to protect me and my rocks.” She was

making fun of him, but he didn’t care. She looked

so beautiful, she could make all the fun she

wanted.

Still, he was concerned about her diamond

stash upstairs. “You sure you don’t want me to

put your jewels in the hotel safe? You have to

understand, with this guy on the premises, you’re

very likely to come home tonight and find it all

missing.”

“Don’t worry,” she said confidently. “They’re

in a very safe place.”

Leave your answer as a comment and good luck!

The Mist on a Dark and Stormy night!

2010-07-21T22:29:00.001-04:00

Living in the shadow of the Adirondacks, as I do, I am privileged to enjoy many wild and wonderful thunderstorms each summer. Recently, during a particularly dark and stormy night, with the lights flickering and threatening to go out altogether, the inspiration struck me to download Stephen King’s 1980’s novella The Mist. I read the first sample chapter and was hooked. I’ve had my nose stuck to my iphone ever since – even if the power goes out I can still read on!

In short: Love The Mist and love reading it as an ebook on my phone!

Nancy Drew turns 80!

2010-06-20T22:54:00.002-04:00

I think the first real mystery novel I ever read was Nancy Drew's Secret of the Old Clock. I devoured the rest of the series and have been hooked on suspense ever since. In honor of Nancy's 80th birthday, here's a fun little post I found on: www.nancydrewsleuth.com

Enjoy!

TOP 10 CLUES ABOUT

NANCY DREW’S MYSTERIOUS HISTORY…

1. Edward Stratemeyer, of the Stratemeyer Syndicate, created

Nancy Drew in 1929.

2. The first three books in the series: The Secret of the Old

Clock, The Hidden Staircase, and The Bungalow Mystery all

debuted on April 28, 1930.

3. Carolyn Keene is a pen name for various ghostwriters who

have written the books over the years. The first Carolyn Keene

was Mildred Wirt Benson who wrote 23 of the first 30 Nancy

Drew books.

4. When Stratemeyer died 2 weeks after his Nancy Drew series

debuted in 1930, his daughters Harriet Stratemeyer Adams and Edna Stratemeyer took

over the series. Harriet ran the Syndicate for 52 more years. She also penned volumes 31

and 33-56 in the classic series.

5. Nancy Drew first came to the big screen in 1938 with Nancy Drew…Detective, the first

of what would be 4 movies released from 1938-1939 and produced by Warner Brothers.

6. Beginning in 1959 through 1978, the first 34 volumes in the series were revised and

cut down from 25 chapters to just 20.

7. Nancy Drew made her television debut along with The Hardy Boys in 1978 with

alternating Sunday night mysteries on ABC. Actress Pamela Sue Martin played Nancy

Drew.

8. The Stratemeyer Syndicate switched publishers in 1979 from Grosset & Dunlap to

Simon & Schuster resulting in a lawsuit between the parties. Both publishers continue to

publish Nancy Drew books today. The Stratemeyer Syndicate was sold to Simon &

Schuster in 1984.

9. Over 500 Nancy Drew books have been published since 1930. From the classic series

to spin-offs like the Nancy Drew Files, there isn’t a case that Nancy Drew hasn’t solved!

10. In 1993, the first ever Nancy Drew Conference was held at the University of Iowa

with over 500 in attendance and original Carolyn Keene Mildred Wirt Benson made the

news as ABC’s Person of the Week. Today, the tradition of annual conventions continues

with the Nancy Drew Sleuths fan group hosting yearly conventions for fans and would-be

gumshoes. Visit their website: www.ndsleuths.com.

Nancy Drew © & ™, Simon & Schuster, Inc.

Compiled by Nancy Drew consultant, Jennifer Fisher, www.nancydrewsleuth.com

Happy Birthday Daphne du Maurier

2010-05-13T19:07:00.000-04:00

"Last night I dreamt I went to Manderley again..."

Daphne du Maurier was born on this day in 1907. She gave us Rebecca, arguably the best romantic suspense novel ever written.

Happy Birthday Daphne!

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle Ghost Painting

2010-04-28T22:28:00.002-04:00

I don't usually post until Friday, but this is too Dark and Stormy to pass up!

The $37,000 Sir Arthur Conan Doyle 'ghost' painting

The Sherlock Holmes author bought this painting while mourning the death of his son in WW1

A painting inspired by the psychic spirits of dead soldiers and bought by a grieving Sir Arthur Conan Doyle who lost a son in WW1 will auction as part of the Owston Collection in Sydney.

Bonhams' sale will take place on June 25-26.

The painting by William Francis (Will) Longstaff (Australian, 1879-1953) titled 'The Rearguard (The spirit of ANZAC)' is a huge oil on canvas measuring 53 9/16 x 106 5/16 inches.

The piece is estimated to sell for A$20,000-40,000 (over US$37,000). Sir Arthur Conan Doyle purchased the painting directly from the artist for his own collection, 1928.

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle wished to be
remembered for his psychic work, rather
than for his Sherlock Holmes novels

The painting is an iconic image, believed missing until now, by the Official War Artist, Will Longstaff. It is one of a series of only six paintings which represent the pinnacle of the artist's career, beginning with his best-known work, Menin Gate.

Longstaff had attended the unveiling ceremony of the Menin Gate memorial in Ypres on July 24, 1927.

He was so moved by the ceremony that, during a midnight walk along the Menin Road, he imagined a vision of steel-helmeted spirits rising from the moonlit cornfields.

It is said that, following his return to London, he painted the work in one session. Mrs Mary Horsburgh, who had worked in a British canteen during the war, may have influenced him.

She had met him during this evening walk, and told him that she could feel "her dead boys" all around her. Spiritualism was very much in vogue in the 1920s, and many who wished to communicate with relatives and friends who had died in battle found consolation in its tenets.

'The Rearguard' was reported to have been painted under similar psychic influence:

"Mr. Longstaff says that he felt an uncanny 'urge' to paint the picture, which formed itself with lightning rapidity in his brain," said Conan Doyle.

"He began at 7 o'clock in the morning, working unceasingly in the dim light. He had experienced a sensation not felt in any other work, and he was surprised and delighted. It is one of the most remarkable pictures I have seen.

'The Rearguard (The spirit of ANZAC)' by William Francis Longstaff

"The artist worked for 11 hours with the fury of inspiration. Genius has always been on the edge of psychic influence.'"

`The Rearguard (The spirit of ANZAC)', presents a ghostly array of soldiers lining up near the beach at Gallipoli in the bleak dawn, with departing transports and warships barely visible on the misty horizon.

The subject is probably the most poignant of the series: Longstaff enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force at the outbreak of the First World War and was himself injured at Gallipoli.

The ANZAC tradition; the belief that the First World War, and the Gallipoli Campaign in particular, was a watershed in Australian history, and that those who died on foreign soil did so to create a greater Australia, gave this painting an added, almost religious, significance.

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle who bought the painting claimed to have had conversations with the spirits of many great men, including Cecil Rhodes, Earl Haig, Joseph Conrad and others. In his later years Sir Arthur often expressed a wish that he should be remembered for his psychic work rather than for his novels.

When he celebrated his seventy-first birthday he confessed he was tired of hearing about his celebrated character, Sherlock Holmes. "Holmes is dead," he said. "I have done with him." Ten of Sir Arthur's 60 books are about 'spiritism'.

Bonhams, the international fine art auction house, is to sell the Owston Collection in Sydney on June 25-26.

The sale will be held at the Overseas Passenger Terminal at Circular Quay overlooking the Sydney Opera House and Harbour Bridge. A significant number of items will be offered with 'no reserve', providing an extra interest in the sale.

Happy Birthday Moonlight on Diamonds!

2010-04-17T23:00:00.000-04:00

I can't believe it has been a year since the release of my debut romantic suspense Moonlight on Diamonds. Thank you so much to everyone who bought the book, came to a party or signing, or took the time to write a review on Amazon. This has been a dream come true.

“Storm has written a book brimming with twists and turns.”

- Romantic Times Book Reviews

“This is a book you will not be able to put down.”

- You Gotta Read Reviews

“Moonlight on Diamonds is a pleasure to read, with layers of mystery that will keep you guessing to the end.”

- Long and Short Reviews

“Anyone who loves a good thriller involving jewel thieves and romance would LOVE this book.”

- Between the Lines

“I couldn’t wait to find out who would end up with the Hope Diamond, so I eagerly turned the pages, and I didn’t put the book down until the end.”

- Nights&Weekend Review.com

“Moonlight on Diamonds was like an interactive game of Clue… full of surprises all a round.”

- Romance Junkies

“If you like humorous characters, impossible odds, and a twisted plot, you will find lots to love in Moonlight on Diamonds!”

- Manic Readers

Check out the Moonlight on Diamonds BOOK TRAILER.

Annabel Lee by Edgar Allan Poe

2010-04-08T21:38:00.000-04:00

In honor of National Poetry Month, here is a lovely Dark and Stormy poem. Enjoy the gothic fabulousness!

Annabel Lee

Edgar Allan Poe

(published 1849)

It was many and many a year ago,

In a kingdom by the sea,

That a maiden there lived whom you may know

By the name of ANNABEL LEE;

And this maiden she lived with no other thought

Than to love and be loved by me.

She was a child and I was a child,

In this kingdom by the sea,

But we loved with a love that was more than love-

I and my Annabel Lee

With a love that the winged seraphs of heaven

Coveted her and me.

And this was the reason that, long ago,

In this kingdom by the sea,

A wind blew out of a cloud by night

Chilling my Annabel Lee

So that her high-born kinsman came

And bore her away from me,

To shut her up in a sepulcher

In this kingdom by the sea.

The angels, not half so happy in Heaven,

Went envying her and me:--

Yes! that was the reason (as all men know,

In this kingdom by the sea)

That the wind came out of a cloud, chilling

And killing my Annabel Lee.

But our love it was stronger by far than the love

Of those who were older than we

Of many far wiser than we-

And neither the angels in Heaven above,

Nor the demons down under the sea,

Can ever dissever my soul from the soul

Of the beautiful Annabel Lee:

For the moon never beams without bringing me dreams

Of the beautiful Annabel Lee;

And the stars never rise but I see the bright eyes

Of the beautiful Annabel Lee;

And so, all the night-tide, I lie down by the side

Of my darling, my darling, my life and my bride,

In her sepulcher there by the sea

In her tomb by the side of the sea.

Contest Winner for Heart of the Witch

2010-04-06T21:03:00.000-04:00

Congratulations to Donna B, the lucky winner of a copy of Alicia Dean's Heart of the Witch.
Thanks for posting Donna!

The bizarre links between Heart of the Witch and The Wizard of Oz

2010-03-19T21:41:00.003-04:00

Alicia Dean tells us about the bizarre links between her new romantic suspense, Heart of the Witch, and The Wizard of Oz. She has also kindly offered to give away a copy to one lucky winner. Post a comment anytime between March 19th - 26th to win! BTW - Love this goth cover!

When I began writing Heart of the Witch, a dark and creepy paranormal romantic suspense about witches and a Tin Man villain, I knew some Wizard of Oz references would result. What I hadn’t counted on was all the odd (and yes, somewhat creepy) connections that would come about on my road to publication.

Just as I was finishing the manuscript, I moved, taking a transfer with my job from Oklahoma to Kansas.

One of the contests I entered before publishing was called the Emerald City Opener. Thing is, I didn’t enter it because of the contest name, didn’t even make the connection myself until I won first place and one of my friends commented on the coincidence.

Not long after Dorchester accepted my novel, I learned a few other interesting tidbits about the Wizard of Oz theme in relation to my book. Ray Bolger, who played the scarecrow in the original Wizard of Oz movie (but was first cast as the Tin Man) was born in Dorchester, Massachusetts. Strangely enough, Neal McDonough, who played the Tin Man in the Sci-Fi series, Tin Man, was also born in Dorchester.

I hope these links are a positive sign that this was meant to be and good things will come of it. On the other hand, when witches are involved, it’s just as likely to prognosticate some kind of hex.

There’s another Wizard of Oz connection in the book, although this one was intentional. Jay Haleck is one of the characters in Heart of the Witch. His name is a scrambled version of Jack Haley, who played the Tin Man.

Here’s hoping you enjoy my novel and that, somewhere along your journey down the yellow brick road, you find your very own wizard to grant your heart’s desire.

I have a new novel coming out in December with The Wild Rose Press, A Knight Before Christmas. It's a contemporary romance with an element of suspense. It's part of a three book series I'm doing with two other authors, Claire Ashgrove and Dyann Barr, whose books will be out the same month. My agent is currently shopping my latest book, which is a thriller with just a touch of romance.

Heart of the Witch is available through Dorchesterpub.com and all major book stores. My other titles are available through TheWildRosePress.com. You can check them out at my web site: AliciaDean.com. Also, I’m very excited about a new project coming through The Wild Rose Press and Audio Lark books. In April, two of my shorter titles, Truly Madly and Poetic Injustice, will be available as an audio download at Audiolark.com.

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Alicia Dean -

Web Site: AliciaDean.com

Available now from Dorchesterpub.com

and all major bookstores...

Last two days to enter Daphne Du Maurier Mystery/Suspense writing contest

2010-03-12T23:03:00.000-05:00

Attention aspiring romantic suspense authors: The Daphne Du Maurier Award for Excellence in Mystery/Suspense

will be accepting submissions for two more days. So dust off that pulse-pounding manuscript you've been working and send it on in!

The contest is open to any writer who has never been contracted in book-length fiction (40,000 words or more) from any publisher.
Any manuscript that has previously finaled in the Daphne including honorable mentions is not eligible for entry again.
There is no limit to the number of entries per author, but each entry may be entered in ONLY ONE category.
Membership in Romance Writers of America ® and/or MRSRWA is not a requirement for entry.
Contest entries will no longer be accepted after midnight, 3/15/2010 Mountain time. Any entries that are posted after that time will be eliminated.

For more information go to: http://www.rwamysterysuspense.org/d_unpublished.php

Good luck!

Lucky Winner of Lydia Storm's Moonlight On Diamonds

2010-03-09T19:25:00.000-05:00

Mary Ricksen is the lucky winner of a signed copy of Moonlight On Diamonds. Congratulations Mary and thanks for posting on Dark and Stormy!

Penny Watson Reviews Crocodile On The Sandbank by Elizabeth Peters

2010-02-26T09:34:00.001-05:00

Dark and Stormy is thrilled to have best selling author Penny Watson visiting us from Penelope’s Reviews to share her review for Crocodile on the Sandbank by Elizabeth Peters.

Long before I became helplessly addicted to romance novels, I was helplessly addicted to mysteries. Back in the good old days when mysteries were sometimes fun and witty and not filled with gratuitous violence and gore. The Amelia Peabody Series by Elizabeth Peters manages to encompass both of these genres quite successfully. Peters' books are a brilliant combination of archaeology and history, well developed characters and plot, and a well-crafted and well-written story line. There is drama, wit and suspense galore.

It comes as no surprise that Elizabeth Peters actually has a doctorate in Egyptology from the University of Chicago. The larger than life setting for her mystery series (19th century Egypt) practically pops off the pages.

"On the east, the undulating yellow Mokattam hills formed a frame for a picture whose nearer charms included the vivid green strip of cultivated land next to the river, and, in the distance, shining like the towers of fairyland, the domes and minarets of Cairo. To the west and south the desert stretched away in a haze of gold."

The year I discovered this series (which currently includes 18 titles) was one of the greatest reading years of my life. I became so enamored with the Emerson family that I quickly devoured every book, in chronological order of course. I even dreamt about the characters!

Crocodile on the Sandbank, originally published in 1975, is an excellent introduction to the series. The story is narrated in the first person by Amelia Peabody, the pragmatic, intelligent, and exceedingly determined English heroine. Over the course of this first book, Amelia establishes her well-earned reputation as Sitt Hakim (Lady Doctor) and an amateur Egyptologist. The self-confirmed spinster meets her match with Radcliffe Emerson, an academic explorer with a fierce temper and a penchant for swearing (ergo his nickname "Father of Curses"). The chemistry between these two characters is as good as it gets in romantic fiction. They spar, they snap, they complement each other perfectly.

This book has everything I love--suspense, romance and a great sense of humor! There is mystery and intrigue surrounding the exploration of an Egyptian tomb and unexplained hauntings by a mummy. There are two wonderful romances that unfold in this story, involving Amelia and Emerson, and Evelyn (her companion) and Emerson's younger brother Walter. There is fabulous dialogue and banter between the characters. And there is a wonderful immersion into the world of ancient Egypt, which is highly addictive.

I am thrilled that a new installment of this series will be released in April. A River In The Sky is the 19th addition to the Amelia Peabody Series. For anyone looking for a highly satisfying and addictive series, I cannot recommend these books highly enough.

Grade: A

Penelope

And be sure to check out Penny’s best selling debut novel, Sweet Inspiration!

Lucky winner of Jax Cassidy's Brush Strokes

2010-02-24T21:37:00.000-05:00

The lucky winner of a copy of Jax Cassidy's ebook, Brush Strokes, is Beth Trissel.
Congratulations Beth and thanks for posting on Dark and Stormy!

Romance Author Jax Cassidy shares a moment in Paris

2010-02-12T09:44:00.000-05:00

Just in time for Valentine’s, Dark and Stormy turns to the romantic side of fiction. I am lucky enough to have erotic romance author, Jax Cassidy, sharing a luscious little moment of her time in Paris while writing her newest release Brush Strokes.

One fortunate reader will win a copy of Jax’s book, which Romance Junkies gave 4.5 ribbons and Coffee Time Romance called “a sweet and erotic dalliance”. Just leave a comment on this blog entry and the winner will be announced on February 19^th.

Now onto Paris…

Sexy Paris

When I think of Valentine’s, I think of love and romance. I also think of Paris, the City of Light, where these emotions seem to be bloom year round. I totally love writing about this city because it will always be a magical place in my heart. Living there was a surreal experience—a dream come true in so many ways—because I was able to really explore and savor the richness of what this city has to offer. I never grew tired of seeing the architecture and would often walk along the streets, mesmerized by the beauty that stretched on for miles and miles. I liked to stop at the quaint cafés, frequent the local shops, and go completely nuts in the intimate bookstores. One of my favorite places was Shakespeare and Company, which has an amazing history, but that’s for another day.

Sensuality spills out from every corner of Paris because they take care in how each and every thing is presented. From the way they set up their window displays, to the way they wrap your pastries before you leave the patisserie, you can’t help but fall in love with the passion and pride they have for presentation. You know that saying, “it’s in the details”? It’s true, Paris evokes sexiness and you can’t help but feel sexy. I could go on and on about my experiences as an American living there but I wanted you to see why I use Paris as a backdrop.

In BRUSH STROKES, my latest release from Amber Heat, I used all the elements found in Paris to help set the mood for the story. It felt natural to write about an exclusive sex club because I wanted to show the sensual and provocative side instead of the normal submissive/dominant clubs that most often come to mind. Sadly, I must confess that I’m not into the lifestyle so I had to do the research. I was able to find information about an existing sex club that catered to the high-profile and affluent crowd so I threw in some embellishments and made it an ideal place for any inquisitive ‘sex club virgins’ to want to visit. This was so much fun to write and I fell in love with the characters. It also gave me a chance to incorporate my love of art and Mr. Darcy. C’mon, who doesn’t love the brooding hero in Pride & Prejudice? Since this is a short novella, I tried to make the chemistry ‘hot’ and as a person who believes in love at first sight and soul mates, I hope that this translated well in my story.

I’ll just wrap up by saying that you MUST visit Paris at least once in your lifetime. The place drips of sexiness and romance…will make you yearn for those naughty things you’ve always thought about and never acted upon. Once you step foot in the City of Light, you’ll understand exactly what I’m talking about….

www.jaxcassidy.com

www.jaxadora.blogspot.com

Interview with Lori Graham, Senior Editor at The Wild Rose Press

2010-02-05T09:42:00.003-05:00

Hi Lori, please tell us a little about what you do at the Wild Rose Press.

I am the senior editor of the Crimson Rose line of The Wild Rose Press. This publishing company started 3 ½ years ago and I joined the staff just shortly after they opened their doors. Our goal at TWRP is to work with authors to help them perfect their craft. Yes, we like to publish books, of course, but we want to give authors the information they need. For example, every manuscript gets a response and none of them is a form letter. For me personally, I am blessed to work with a great bunch of authors as I edit their work. In addition, I also get the joy of managing an incredible editing staff. This group of women makes my life a lot of fun.

What makes a query grab you and what are you actively looking to acquire right now?

The thing that grabs me most is an author who I can work with. Someone who takes the time to research their plot and develop their craft. They create characters with depth and reality. This is what grabs me. As far as acquisitions, we have a special submission call going on right now called Jewels of the Night. You can visit our website at www.thewildrosepress.com and go to the crimson submission page or the behind the garden gate blog to get the details. If you have any questions, of course, you can email me directly at lori (at) thewildrosepress.com.

What really makes a suspense novel work for you?

Again, this comes back to a plot that is real. Given that we are dealing with suspense, it is important that certain rules be followed. For example, if the hero is an FBI agent, the way the character develops and acts needs to be somewhat consistent with how a real FBI agent might act. Granted there is some license that fiction can take, but it can’t go too far. So again, the research portion is very important and really polishes the book. The other aspect I look for is the development of those characters. The hero and heroine need to be as three dimensional as the author can get them. The reader wants to be able to know what they are thinking, feeling, seeing, touching, smelling, tasting – the emotions are important.

Who are your all time favorite romantic suspense authors/books?

There are simply too many to count. It all started with Nancy Drew, moved to Phyllis Whitney, and has come up to Cindy Gerard. There are more and I enjoy them all.

Is there a romantic suspense novel at Wild Rose that you're particularly excited about. Can you tell us a little about it?

Again, too many to go into. We have some great authors in our catalogue with works from JL Wilson to Judith Rochelle to Cindy Green to Jenni Holbrook to Alicia Dean to Cierra James to name just a few. Lydia Storm is also quite good. J

Thank you to Lori Graham and don’t forget to post a comment to be entered to win this months Valentine’s free book give away!

Valentine's Contest - the entire month of February!

2010-02-02T09:58:00.000-05:00

In honor of Valentine’s Day, I’m giving away a signed copy of Moonlight on Diamonds. Post a comment below with the name of your favorite romantic suspense novel, or author, to be entered in the contest.

To see my favorites, check out Lydia’s List.

Lydia recommends: Tasha Alexander's Victorian suspense series

2010-01-29T09:31:00.003-05:00

Tasha Alexander has combined all the necessary ingredients for a first rate romantic suspense series: jewel thieves, poison, Turkish harems and a plucky independent Victorian heroine to unravel the mysteries surrounding them. With a glamorous range of locals, fascinating crimes to solve, and a romance which grows deliciously rich and deep as the series progresses, these are novels for a stolen afternoon of luxury; a day to lounge in your pajamas with the cell phone turned off, curtains drawn and a box of chocolates by your side.

Start at the beginning with And Only to Deceive, in which our heroine, Lady Emily Ashton, searches for the truth about her husband’s death and the mystery surrounding stolen antiquities at the British Museum. Her investigation leads Emily through London’s Rotten Row, to Renoir’s cozy Parisian artist studio, and finally to the glittering beaches of Santorini where she discovers which of her handsome suitors has the possibility of becoming more than a mere flirtation.

Proceed to A Poisoned Season, in which, as a woman ahead of her time, Emily performs a balancing act between breaking old codes of conduct while struggling to maintain her place among the highest circles of British society. As she works to unmask a daring cat burglar obsessed with stealing the treasures of Marie Antoinette, Emily must also navigating the romantic interests of a handsome duke, a wealthy but mysterious attaché to Queen Victoria, and the dashing jewel thief who may, or may not, be too dangerous to trifle with.

The third book in the series is set amidst Vienna’s Strauss-filled ballrooms and coffee houses inhabited by disgruntled revolutionaries. In A Fatal Waltz, Emily enters the arena of political and romantic intrigue when she discovers her fiancé has a past as mysterious as any of the cases she has yet unraveled and finds herself drawn into a plot that could shatter her world as easily as it topples the thrones of Europe.

Perhaps my favorite in this series is the most recent installment, Tears of Pearl, which is set in a fabulous Turkish harem. As a newly wed bride on her honeymoon, it is here that Emily must face her ambivalence about motherhood and the very real dangers of pregnancy and childbirth in the Victorian era. She is also called upon to solve the murder of a British diplomat’s daughter, who is found dead in the garden of the Sultan’s Topkapi Palace. As she navigates the labyrinthine twists and turns of the secretive harem, danger lurks around every corner and Emily must use all her skill to uncover a killer so well hidden, she faces her greatest challenge yet.

Enjoy!

What I'm reading now: Sepulchre by Kate Mosse

2010-01-22T10:22:00.002-05:00

I’m about to crack open Sepulchre, by Kate Mosse. A fellow suspense addict slipped it off one of the shelves in his fabulously old-fashioned wood paneled library and kindly offered it to me on loan. Thanks Marcus!

Before I even begin, I’m loving the tarot themed interior book lining. I know – don’t judge a book by its interior cover, but I’m a sucker for a beautifully constructed tome. Other things that intrigue me about this book: It’s set in France (which is always a plus in my world), it features a mysterious old country house and there’s a tarot deck which possesses the power over life and death – what’s not to love?

Lydia's List

2010-01-19T21:17:00.006-05:00

Looking for a great book to curl up by the fire with on these cold winter nights? Well, I've created a list of my all time favorite romantic suspense novels. Check out Lydia's List below for some page-turners that you will not be able to put down!

LYDIA'S LIST: BOOKS YOU CAN'T PUT DOWN!

first blog evah!

2010-01-18T23:09:00.000-05:00

It was a dark and stormy night and blogging is a mystery I have yet to unravel....