Exclusive Story-Star Interview with Kendra Spark of Unorthodox

Hello everyone and welcome to Books We Love Blog: ) I’m S. Peters-Davis, author of Unorthodox, a paranormal suspense-thriller. Please come on in, find a comfy seat, and grab a cup of your favorite beverage – I’ve got Kendra Spark sitting across from me. She’s a mystery romance author, the main story-star of Unorthodox, and she’s agreed to an exclusive interview.

I’m totally geeked as she’s always been on the ink-side of my pen, and now she’s…well, wearing a gray and green jogging get-up that reminds me of Jenna’s (another story-star in Unorthodox). *smiles*

Without further introduction, I’m going to jump right in and if anyone else has a question or comment for Kendra, please feel at liberty to post it in the comment section – she’s ours for the day; )

Interview:

SPD – Kendra, your eyes really are the most beautiful shade of violet in this lighting and your hair is longer then I remember, a lot curlier too. Do you wear tinted contacts?

Kendra – No. I don’t wear contacts or glasses, at least not yet; and my hair grew a bit longer since last we saw each other. Humidity determines the tightness of the curls in my hair, and it’s been crazy humid lately. I love the four seasons of Michigan, but boy, sometimes that humidity…whew.

SPD – I hear you. You’re north of where I live, thought it would be milder. *chuckles* How about your writing? Clara Jones is your literary agent, right? *Kendra nods* How’s that relationship going?

Kendra – Clara’s happy for the moment, but she’ll be pressing for the first book in the next series. She thrives on productive authors and she’s good at inspiring performance.  I just got back from California, signing a contract with Knixton House Publishing. Thankfully the publisher enjoys mysteries and romance…and he’s willing to wait for the next series. I have a feeling the upcoming case that I’ll be working as an FBI consultant with Derek and Jenna (in Malevolent) will be jam-packed with story potential for my mysteries.

SPD – Oh, so you’re working as an FBI consultant? As in you decided to take the job?

Kendra – I just received a proposition from FBI Special Task Force Director Jackson Powers. Apparently my ability can be an asset in solving cases. My grandmother believes it’s my true calling over everything else, including my novel writing. I’m not sure about giving anything up yet…only that I’ll be working on Director Jackson’s next case with Derek and Jenna.

SPD – So…about Jenna…

Kendra – Without giving away any spoilers…all I can say is Jenna is still working cases as an FBI criminal analyst.

SPD – Okay, understood. I’ll move on to Derek. He’s an attractive single FBI Task Force agent…one of the best, I understand. And you’re an attractive single mystery author. * I wiggle my brows* Anything you’d like to share?

Kendra – Yes, Derek…striking blue eyes, dark wavy hair, dimple on his left cheek…just up from the corner of his mouth when he smiles. *she stares off for a moment and catches herself then chuckles* It’s the writer inside me that gets a bit carried away with defining descriptions. *she shakes her head* All I’ll say is, yes, he is attractive, but it goes much deeper than his good looks.

SPD – Interesting. And something to look forward to also, but for now, I’ll move on. What is it that annoys you most?

Kendra – Being called a psychic. Not just the name, but the inflicting tone used to say it out loud. That has a tendency to leave nasty burning holes in my confidence.

SPD – I’m sorry you have to deal with nay-sayers. I know you have an amazing gift and you’re putting it to good use. I agree with your grandmother’s thought about it being a “calling.”

Thank you, Kendra, for your honest responses – I appreciate the chance to get to know you and to share this exclusive interview with your fans.

Kendra – Thanks for having me – always a pleasure to spend time with readers who enjoy the paranormal, suspense-thrillers, and romance. Thank you to everyone for stopping in – have an amazing weekend: )

Unorthodox – A Kendra Spark Novel – Releases Sept. 15, 2017

Kendra Spark, suspense-mystery romance author and communicator with the dead, is requested to hop on the first flight to D.C.

Jenna Powers, FBI criminal analyst and estranged best friend of Kendra, gets ghosticized in a fatal accident before relaying all the details of the FBI killer case.

Derek Knight, a dedicated FBI Special Task Force agent, takes lead on the case.

The investigation into the FBI agent killings continues as Kendra, Jenna – yes, even after death – and Derek work together on the case before Director of the Special Task Force Jackson Powers’ number is up. He’s Jenna’s father and the end-game of the killer’s target list.

Somehow the elusive killer remains undetected, until Kendra’s unique ability produces results and a final possibility at stopping his killing spree before it’s too late.

Amazon Pre-Release Link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B073MZZPVM?ref_=pe_2427780_160035660

About S. Peters-Davis:

S. Peters-Davis writes multi-genre stories, but loves penning a good page-turning suspense-thriller, especially when it’s a ghost story and a romance. When she’s not writing, editing, or reading, she’s hiking, RV’ing, fishing, playing with grandchildren, or enjoying time with her favorite muse (her husband) in Southwest Michigan.

She also writes YA paranormal, supernatural, or sci-fi novels as DK Davis.

Website – http://suda788.wixsite.com/spetersdavis1   

Twitter – https://twitter.com/spdavis788 

FB – https://www.facebook.com/susan.petersdavis

BWL Author Page – http://bookswelove.net/authors/peters-davis-s/

Amazon Author Page: http://amazon.com/author/spetersdavis

Books We Love Sizzling Summer Spectacular Contest – Win a Kindle Touch and amazing ebooks – enter here: http://bookswelove.net/books-we-love-contests/

Brides of Banff Springs by Victoria Chatham

AVAILABLE HERE

 VICTORIA CHATHAM is a young-at-heart senior who has written short stories, newspaper and magazine articles on a variety of subjects from beer festivals to jousting. She credits the economy rather than her submissions for the subsequent demise of several of those publications. Her particular passion is for historical fiction, especially Regency romance. She has no time for wimpy heroines so her novels have a strong element of adventure in them. She is a member of the Calgary Chapter of Romance Writers of America and Romance Writers of America. When not writing, Victoria relaxes by reading from a main menu of historical or contemporary romances with hefty sides of thrillers by various authors. She loves to travel and visits her family in England as often as she can.

BRIDES OF BANFF SPRINGS came into being because of the ghost bride stories that abound at the Banff Springs Hotel, now the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel. The story had to include accurately researched historical facts blended with a sweet romance. Even though this was a more recent history than my first historical novels, this was set in 1935, I still had to do a great deal of research. What better place to do that than in Banff itself.

In the Dirty Thirties jobs were hard to come by. Having lost her father and her home in southern Alberta, Tilly McCormack is thrilled when her application for a position as a chambermaid at the prestigious Banff Springs Hotel, one of Canada’s great railway hotels, is accepted. Tilly loves her new life in the Rocky Mountain town and the people she meets there.

Local trail guide Ryan Blake, taken with Tilly’s sparkling blue eyes and mischievous sense of humor, thinks she is just the girl for him. When a bride-to-be, whose wedding is being held at the Hotel, disappears, Tilly has an idea where she might have gone and together with Ryan sets out to search for her.

Will they find the missing bride and will Tilly accept Ryan’s proposal?

Tilly McCormack is thrilled when her application for a position at the prestigious Banff Springs Hotel, one of Canada’s great railway hotels, is accepted. Local trail guide, Ryan Blake, is sure she is the girl for him. When a bride-to-be, whose wedding is being held at the Hotel, disappears, Tilly has an idea where she might have gone. Will they find her, and will Tilly accept Ryan’s proposal?

Find out more about Victoria Chatham at:

http://bookswelove.net/authors/chatham-victoria/

www.facebook.com/AuthorVictoriaChatham

www.victoriachatham.com

Stillwaters Run Deep, Book One: Raven's Lament

Stillwater's Run Deep 
Book One

Raven's Lament

Frank Talaber, The Writer:
Mad muse inside keeps my pencil writing. Yes, I still actually use a pencil to write down story ideas first before using the laptop. Currently living in Chilliwack, BC. I usually write urban fantasy, crime, mystery, science fiction and romance (the really hot stuff, see my novel Shuttered Seduction). but enough of me, on to the novel.

Raven's Lament, The Novel:

A Canadian tale of When Harry Met Sally mashed into the West Coasts version of the Karate Kid.

Dumped by his fiancée because he wasn’t man enough for her, Brook Grant goes off to the ends of Canada’s west coast to investigate the strange story of a rare golden spruce tree cut down in protest of logging.

            Seeking solace and understanding for his torn heart he instead finds a centuries old native legend come to life. Along with a god that shouldn’t exist, except in totems and old myths.

            Ever read about damning Shakespearean love, the kind that with one glance tears your breath away and turns your soul inside out, knowing you’ve found your one? Well to experience it is another matter. Being an educated journalist and reporter Brook struggles with his belief systems after he meets Chelen Davidshaw.

            Only to have her taken away by said native god, Raven, yes the shape-shifting, always hungry Raven. A being that reportedly has the power to change the world back to the way it once was and has lost the one thing that keeps him from aging, his immortal stone. A stone that Brook has found.

            So now Brook has to not only believe in himself, but to challenge everything he has been taught to be the truth and rescue Chelen.

            Fortunately he does have Chelen’s uncle to help him. A partly psycho Shaman, Charlie Stillwaters, who talks to Sasquatch, spirits and little animals like we converse with our in laws.

            It’s kinda like taking six boy scouts to lead the assault on the beaches of Normandy on D-Day. Oh yeah, this is going to go well. 

My BWL Author Page and Links to where to buy my novels


http://www.bookswelove.com/authors/talaber-frank/

Smashwords Site Link

Kobo Site Link
Amazon Site Link

My Facebook Author's Page Link

My Twitter page Link

Newest Titles Coming from Books We Love

These pre-orders include several sequels and series updates to your favorites, including Book 6, in teh Canadian Historical Brides series (Saskatchewan) Field of Gold Beneath Prairie Skies.

 Pre-Order Now

		July 30, 2017		August 15, 2017		August 15, 2017
		September 12, 2017		September 19, 2017		September 19, 2017

Camping Trip to Mackinac Island, Michigan

Dangerous Sanctuary by J.Q. Rose

Pastor Christine Hobbs never imagined she would be caring 

for a flock that includes a pig, a kangaroo, and a murderer.

Available at the BWL Bookstore

Hello and welcome to the Books We Love Insiders Blog!

The middle of summer and the prime time for travel is here. Today I'm taking you on a Road Trip to my most favorite place in the world--Mackinac Island, Michigan. Once the center of fur trade and now a top tourist destination due to the natural beauty and unique atmosphere of the area.

The small red star at the top of the map of the USA marks the place where Mackinac Island is located in Lake Huron, one of the five Great Lakes. (Can you name all five lakes?) Answer is below.

Our entire family spent a few days in upper Michigan. We camped at the Tee Pee Campground in Mackinaw City, Michigan. (I loved the name of the bath house--WeeWee TeePee) Weather was perfect, but then again, I have visited Mackinac Island several times and the weather has always been perfect.

You probably noticed the two spellings of the city and the island are different, but both are pronounced Mackin AW--the ac is a French spelling I believe.

 We boarded the ferry filled with tourists to cross the Straits to the island in about thirteen minutes on the catamaran beauty. We took the early morning Star Line cruise because they make a detour to sail visitors under the Mackinac bridge, a five mile long bridge connecting the lower peninsula of Michigan to the upper peninsula.

 The  bridge was constructed in 1954 and completed in 1957. It has certainly changed the economics of the area for the good.

The underside of the bridge is a work of art as well as of engineering.  How strong this must be to hold all the traffic going along it. On windy days, the bridge will close to traffic. I'm glad we camped on the south side so we didn't have to drive our camper across this monstrosity.

The first glimpse of the elegant Grand Hotel from the ferry always makes my heart quicken with the excitement of knowing we are close to this magical place. If you saw the movie, Somewhere in Time, you saw this famous landmark. The movie was filmed here with Christopher Reeve and Jane Seymour as the main characters. So romantic.

Arch rock is another famous landmark about a mile's ride from the commercial area. Oh yes, I forgot to mention there are no motorized vehicles allowed on the island (except emergency vehicles like a fire truck.) So we rode our bikes around the eight mile perimeter of the lovely island. Enjoyed taking our time to see amazing views of water and skies and wild flowers.

These draft horses are huge! They have to be strong to haul 24 passengers in their specially built Jayco carriages (drays?) Yes, Jayco is a well-known name in the camper industry. When you set foot on the island, there is no gasoline smell from motorized vehicles, but a distinct odor of horses. 

The front entrance to the Grand Hotel.  I wish we had more time to tour the hotel, but with young boys and a five year old granddaughter, it's probably best not to get too close to the elegant surroundings.

Dollhouse looking homes and B n B's in the Victorian style add to the charm of the island.

We visited the old fort on the hill. 
These costumed folks explained about the way of life and the history of this beloved area.
And of course, they fired canons and rifles to the delight of the crowd.

I wish my photos could do justice to the landscapes and sea surrounding the island. Breathtaking. We are standing in the old fort looking out over Father Marquette park. 

Sunset over Lake Huron

Hope you enjoyed the tour. If you ever get a chance to go to Mackinac Island, do it! And take me with you to my most favorite place on earth.

Click here for more information about Mackinac Island.

What is your favorite place to visit? Please leave a comment below.

Can you name the five Great Lakes?
Answer--Remember the names of the five Great Lakes by spelling H.O.M.E.S.--Huron, Ontario, Michigan, Erie, and Superior.

Sizzling Sofa Stories by Stuart R. West's Sofa

Click here for the first book created on my fine upholstery.

I am Stuart's sofa.

I'm the couch hub of the Midwest, the loveseat heart of suburban Kansas. An upholstery covered melting pot suitable for every race, color, creed, and religious bottom of humanity. There are eight million stories to be told from my cushions and this is one of them. For you see...

Wait. Hold on a minute. It's a lie. All of it!

My life is boring. I get to service Stuart's rear-end only. Day in and day out, he sits on me, writing. Sure, some times his wife parks on me, but as far as variety? Forget about it.

Frankly, watching someone write is really, really boring.

On occasion, though, I'm privy to the insights of the writing process. For instance, Stuart's frequently asked "where do you get your ideas?" Usually--as is his lame and lazy approach--he responds "I don't know." (See what I mean? BORING.)

This hammock thinks it has it bad? Try being me, Stuart's suffering sofa!

But last week, something interesting finally happened. While wearing me down (and would it hurt Stuart to sit on my other side on occasion?), Stuart received a text on his phone.

It read: Hey! It's Theresa! I'm using Tim's phone because I lost mine! See you in a bit! DON'T text back on this phone!

This set Stuart to thinking, never a good idea. He didn't know a Tim or Theresa. He couldn't very well text back, either, tell Theresa she had a wrong number. After all, she'd strictly forbidden him to do so.

Weened on thrillers and mysteries, Stuart started pulling pieces together. Clearly, Theresa was cheating on Tim. The heart emojis sealed the deal. Should Stuart warn Tim? Write back anyway and let Theresa know she had the wrong number?

What did Stuart, the man of inaction, the writer do? Nothing. Altogether now: BORING.

Several hours later, Theresa texted back: Thinking bout you. Had a great time.

Again, Stuart didn't respond. Through-out the day, Theresa kept texting, her anxiety ramping up with each missive: Helloooo? What's wrong? Why aren't you responding? Dammit, talk to me!

Finally, Theresa's final message: That's it. I'm talking to Tim. Even more troublesome? Theresa attached a photo of a baby in a car seat.

Like a Hitchcockian protagonist from days of old, Stuart had unwittingly become an unwilling, silent partner in an affair, the fourth member of a sordid situation that would undoubtedly end in murrrderrrr.

Yes sir, it was the most excitement I'd had since I was a wee settee at the sofa factory.

Stuart deliberated, didn't have a clue as to what to do. In his typically inert fashion, he decided to fashion the incident into a thriller to be written at a later date. The seed of an idea had been planted and his mind began to water it.

So...that's where one of Stuart's book ideas came from.

Wait! Here he comes! Gotta' run. I'll talk to--Oooff!

Another comedic thriller I helped birth, yet never get any credit for!

Stuart R. West's Books We Love Author's Page: http://bookswelove.net/authors/west-stuart-r/

Happy Summer Everyone! by Nancy M Bell

Laurel's Quest, Book 1 in The Cornwall Adventures click here for more details.

A trip to England sounds like a grand adventure, but Laurel Rowan can’t escape from her true reality. Her mother is terminally ill, and her father needs her to go so he can spend his time at the hospital. On a train to Penzance, Laurel meets a new friend, Coll. On the property of her host, she stumbles upon a magical spring. There she meets the White Lady, who offers her a chance at gaining her heart’s true desire, if only she can solve a riddle.
Pursuing her quest amidst the magic of the Cornish countryside, she is aided by Coll and her new friends Gort and Aisling. They are also helped by creatures of legend and myth, Vear Du, the Selkie, Gwin Scawen, the Cornish Piskie, Belerion the fire salamander, Morgawr the flying sea serpent who does Vear Du a favour, and Cormoran, the last giant of Cornwall. The friends must battle the odds in the form of bullies and confusing clues. Will they emerge victorious? Will Laurel have the courage to solve the riddle and fulfill her quest?

This is the first novel of mine that was accepted for publication and such holds a special place in my heart. Laurel's Quest is perfect for lying on the beach or in a shady hammock and enjoying her adventures.

I can't believe July is almost over. The summer has gone so fast already. The lilacs are long past, the peonies (they bloom way later here in Alberta than they do in the East) are dropping the last of their petals and the delphiniums are starting to bloom. Another July event I truly enjoy is the poetry day at Stephansson House near Markerville, Alberta. Stephan G Stephansson was an Icelandic immigrant who came to live near the farming community of Markerville. It had, and still does, have strong Icelandic population. He worked hard and did most of his writing at night after a long day in the fields and on the farm. His love of the beauty of nature comes through strongly in his words even when translated into English. I'm sure they are far more beautiful in when read in his native language.

While visiting his home and sharing my poetry with other very accomplished poets,I could almost feel Stephan's presence as the wind whispered through the tall spruce trees. The location is well maintained and the inside of the house is a treasure.

Stephansson House

Although the temperature right now is 26 Celcius, the summer solstice has passed and the days are gradually shrinking back on themselves. In my mind, the solstice or June 21st is not the first day of summer but mid-summer's eve. A time of magic and joy. Also the time when the Holly King of winter begins to win the battles he lost leading up to winter solstice when the Oak King became ascendant. The mighty battle of light and dark on which all our hero tales are based are balanced by the vernal and autumnal equinoxes.

Even though it is hard to imagine it on a hot sunny day such as today. Before we know it the bright flags of autumn will be flying, geese will be on the wing, and the cool breath of winter blowing on our cheek.

There is beauty in every season and I can never decide which is my favourite. Usually I lean toward whichever season I happen to be experiencing. Although I must say I do like the shoulder seasons of spring and autumn in particular. I think it's the change, the feeling of a foot in two seasons at once, partly winter and partly summer.


Till next month, stay well, stay happy, and keep reading.

You can see what I'm up to at my website. www.nancymbell.ca

I can also be found on the first of every month at the Canadian Historical Brides Blog. Please come by and say hi.