Paranormal Properties Book Tour: Ghosts and Jake, by Tracy Lane

        

Ghosts, goblins, spooks, and eerie beings have been written about for years. I grew up reading about them, and watching television shows and movies featuring the unknown. And frankly, I just fell in love with the paranormal. I was a huge fan of Ghost Hunters—so much so that when I found out they were going to be filming in Tombstone Arizona, I flew there for one week just to meet them.  

 

I have always wanted to be a writer, so it was natural for me to merge my two passions together into a young adult paranormal book. It took me a few years to get up my nerve to actually get it completely written and submitted. Being an older author trying to get published for the first time, had me worried. I thought my time had come and gone. I was ready for tons of refusal letters that most authors get the first time. But to my surprise I had a contract in hand two weeks after I submitted the book to a handful of publishers. My world started spinning, but in a good way. Things were moving fast and I was not prepared for it since I was sure it would not be published. I have now learned to always expect the unexpected, for all things are possible. 

 

The characters in my book feel like family to me, like my children. I breathed life into each and every one of them. (No pun intended, Frank.) For you see, even though Frank is dead, he is very much alive in the spirit realm. He makes friends with young Jake, who is a die-hard skeptic helping his parents with their cable show called Paranormal Properties. And Jake has a best friend, a tomboy nicknamed Tank. She knows about Jake being able to see ghosts even though his parents do not.  Frank and Jake make a deal, if Jake will help Frank solve his murder, he will help Jake’s parents get proof of ghosts on tape for their ghost-hunting show. It is a mix of Scooby Doo, Goosebumps and Hardy Boys. 

 

The main character, Jake Weir, is a 14 year old boy who realizes he can see and hear ghosts. Hauntings are most intense around children entering puberty, as kids this age are emitting immense amounts of energy. This is very true of Jake. He comes to terms with seeing ghosts even though he was a huge skeptic up until he met Frank Barrone, Dusks oldest ghost.  

 

I would love to share some interesting facts about ghosts. 

 

Most ghosts are happy, but some still cling to an emotional pain. Frank is a happy ghost, although he wants to find out who murdered him and where they buried his body.  

 

They can make sounds that are audible. True, but Jake can hear Frank talk just like he did when he was alive. They have meaningful conversations. 

 

Ghosts favor night due to the decrease in daytime energy use. Not true with Frank, he comes and goes all times day and night. He is not limited to night appearances. 

 

Ghosts retain all the memories and emotions of their lives. True, Frank recounts several instances in his life with Jake. 

 

Ghosts make friends with other ghosts from different eras. And they can also make enemies with same ghosts. You will see what I mean towards the end of the book. 

 

If a spirit was a jerk while living, they will probably still be a jerk while a ghost. Frank has that holier than thou attitude and it comes out every once in a while. He is not a jerk though, just a bit on the pushy side. 

 

Some alleged hauntings are actually a "residue," which is a past event that replays itself over and over. This actually happens in chapter four of my book but also has ghosts interacting with each other. This chapter was my favorite to write, I made the live world seem dead and the dead world very alive! 

 

I hope I have taught you some things about ghosts you did not know, how they interact with our world and their own world. How some ghosts want nothing more but to be noticed by the living and acknowledged in our every day life. I also hope you enjoy my book.

Paranormal Properties Book One

Tracy Lane

Genre:  YA Paranormal

Publisher:  Pants on Fire Press

ISBN:  978-0982727171

ASIN:  B00BMHF6X6

Number of pages:   192

Word Count:   33,000

Book Trailer:   http://youtu.be/NwIoLYHHznU

Amazon Print   Kindle

Book Description:

Jake Weir, while on the set of his parents ghost hunting TV show, agrees to help a ghost investigate a 61 year-old murder.

Jake Weir is not like the other kids in Dusk, North Carolina. Then again, Dusk, North Carolina is not like other cities. Known as one of the most haunted cities in America, behind Salem, Massachusetts and New Orleans, Louisiana, Dusk is ground zero for Jake’s ghost hunting parents.

The Weir family has arrived in Dusk eager to scope out some of the town’s 127 reported “paranormal properties,” which just happens to be the name of their own ghost hunting show: Paranormal Properties. What Jake doesn’t know, and what his parents could never imagine, is that Jake can see ghosts! And hear them. And talk back to them! This talent comes in handy when he runs into Dusk’s oldest, most famous ghost: one Frank Barrone, a one-time lounge singer made famous by his booze-soaked ballad, “Barroom Eyes.”

Frank was gunned down by a local mobster in 1951 and has been searching for his killer ever since. When he learns that Jake can see and hear him, Frank makes young Jake a deal: if Jake will help Frank find his killer, Frank will help his parents find a ghost to film for their upcoming Halloween Special on Public Access Channel #319. Jake enlists the only friend he’s made in Dusk, an overweight tomboy nicknamed “Tank,” to help him track down Frank’s killer. As clues emerge and old leads heat up, Frank and Jake learn they make quite a team. But will Jake find Frank’s killer? And will Frank find a real haunted house in time for Halloween?

 “Paranormal Properties is a great, family-friendly Young Adult novel about a boy who can talk to ghosts. Equal parts Scooby-Doo, CSI and the Hardy Boys, you will enjoy getting to know Jake, Frank and Tank as much as I did. Now, if only ‘Paranormal Properties’ was a real show I could watch on TV every week…” ~ Rusty Fischer, author of Zombies Don’t Cry

About the Author:

I was fascinated with the paranormal when I was very young. I always felt like someone was around me even when I was alone. It caused me to be inspired to write a paranormal book where a teenager can see and hear ghosts and actually makes friends with one.

I use to love to write short stories in school and always wanted to be a writer. But raising children and working jobs I just could not find the time to indulge my passion. Then my children grew up and I ended up having two teenagers at home who did not need as much attention from me. I started toying with the idea of writing once again. So setting aside 5 to 10 minutes per day to write at least one page I could end up with a book a year. Now Paranormal Properties is published and I have a list of 8 more books to write. I don’t think I”ll be slowing down anytime soon.

http:///www.tracylane.us

http://tossysbooks.blogspot.com/

http://www.paranormalproperties.us

http://www.facebook.com/jakesparanormalproperties

http://www.facebook.com/ParanormalProperties

http://www.facebook.com/tossylane

http://www.twitter.com/tossysbooks

Goodreads

http://www.goodreads.com/giveaway/show/46688-paranormal-properties

Tour Wide Giveaway
4 signed print books and sets of 2 trading cards
6 sets of two trading cards
Open to US shipping

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BlogPaws Disaster Response Network - Team Up For Oklahoma!

BlogPaws, Pet360 and World Vets are teaming up using our Blogger Disaster Response Network (BDRN) to step up for Oklahoma. We’ve all seen the images of devastation and we believe as a team we can make a big difference. The largest need at the moment is cash. BlogPaws is reaching out to the BDRN and all the sponsors of the 2013 conference to pledge a commitment for Oklahoma. This donation will go to the World Vets who are assessing the needs on site to make the best decision on where the money will go – based on their work in past disasters.

Donations will be collected by World Vets here through 11:59 PM Tuesday, May 28^th. The collective donation will be announced when the money is ready for delivery. Your help, coming together in a communal way, can make a huge difference overall!

Interview with Nancy J. Parra, Author of the Baker's Treat Mysteries

Welcome, Nancy! What inspired the Baker's Treat Mystery series?

I've been gluten free for nearly six years now and I wanted to write about a character with Celiac and show how regular people cope with the illness. Toni Holmes takes it all in stride and makes lemonade out of her lemons.

Do you bake gluten free? Any special recipe you'd like to share? 

Yes, I do bake gluten-free. Self taught. I've been baking since I was five years old and missed that when I first was gluten-free. So I decided to try my hand at gf baking. The more you know the easier it gets.

A really simple special treat that's gluten free is GF Pretzel S'mores. You need gf pretzels, gf chocolate chips, gf milk chocolate bars and marshmallows. place one small square of chocolate bar on a marshmallow- sandwich with two gf pretzels - bake in a 400 degree oven until marshmallow begins to melt. Remove - be careful handling as the marshmallow is hot sugar and can burn you. When they are cool enough to handle, melt chocolate chips in small bowl in microwave. Dip cooled Pretzel Sandwich into melted chip coated one corner. Let cool - enjoy!

What's next for Toni? 

Toni hosts her first big family Thanksgiving and learns more about Grandma Ruth as Grandma becomes a "person-of-interest" in a second murder due to incriminating scooter marks left at the scene of the crime.

What do you have for pets? 

I have a sweet Bichonpoo - I refer to her as Little Dog online. She is a cuddle slut with a princess attitude. I've learned a lot about persistence from her. :)

What's the last cozy mystery you read? 

Oh my, there are so many good cozies. I've been reading books from the Killer Characters Blog authors - and Heather Webber/Blake and Joelle Charbonneau and Julie Hyzy- just to name a few.

You have a second series coming out in November with Kensington (All Fudged Up, written as Nancy Coco). Tell us a little more about that series. 

All Fudged Up is a bit of "Northern Exposure" set on Mackinac Island, Michigan the Fudge capital of the world. The quaint island is known for it's restriction on cars - so that horse drawn carriages and bicycles are the way to get around the island. This series includes fantastic fudge recipes and a darling bichonpoo named Mallow (Mal for short) There is a wonderful timeless quality about the setting with painted lady Victorian summer homes, pool houses and festivals. The possibility for murder is endless as the flow of tourists and the highly competitive Fudge industry.

Is it hard to write 2 cozy series at the same time? 

Um, no... lol - I'm actually writing three as I've sold 'Her Hand in Murder - a Perfect Proposal' series from Berkley Prime Crime that debuts next year (2014) Each cozy has their own place and time in my head. I have a copy writer bible for each series to keep from having the same names pop up. The settings are as different as night and day and help to develop the story.

One thing about yourself your readers might be surprised to learn? 

I served four years in the Air Force stationed on the island of Guam in the south pacific as well as Aurora, Colorado. My military service taught me a lot about discipline and what it's like to live on a small island.

Nancy J. Parra
GLUTEN FOR PUNISHMENT, a Baker's Treat Mystery, Berkley Prime Crime, 7 May 2013
All Fudged UP, a Candy Coated Mystery, Kensington, Nov 2013
Her Hand in Murder, a Perfect Proposal Mystery, Berkley Prime Crime, TBA 2014
check www.nancyjparra.com for upcoming events

Mini-Book Charm Giveaway: The Infernal Detective by Kirsten Weiss

Mini-Book Charm!

The Great Cozy Debate of 2013, by Kendel Lynn

When my mystery, Board Stiff, debuted last week, it received some rave reviews (5 stars, from strangers!), but also a few not so rave. The issue? Cozy. Readers expected one thing, but got another, yet, others felt the story was definitely a cozy. So I ask, what makes a cozy, cozy? Setting, language, amateur status?

The classic term of cozy used to be defined by a mystery set in a small town, with no swear words, sex, or violence, and the amateur sleuth worked with a theme: coffee shop, quilting bee, sewing circle, delicious cupcakery. A slice of the mystery genre, cozies appealed to the Murder, She Wrote viewer/reader, and didn’t much stray into other slices of the mystery cake: hard-boiled, traditional, noir, paranormal (did that even exist?) – plus suspense, crime, thriller and all their sub-genres.

But has cozy evolved? I’m wondering if the popularity of humorous mysteries changed the recipe, or at least the portion size of that decadent dessert. We laugh and cry and cheer on our amateur sleuths, and while they add some spice with romantic romps and use a little salty language, they don’t deal with the bitter dark side: no serial killers or vicious torture or anything that requires one to sleep with their lights on.

My sleuth, Elliott Lisbon, is mostly an amateur (only 4,000 hours from getting her PI license!), she doesn’t have a cat or a dog or a hobby and she doesn’t cook. She’s more of An eat cereal for dinner kinda gal. And every now and then, when the situation prompts her, she blurts out a swear word or gets caught up in the moment with the sexy lieutenant.

Does this disqualify her for the cozy label, is there a more appropriate one, or maybe we just need a new one, and evolved one? Contemporary cozy? Or maybe I’m just overthinking it. Let me know your thoughts, people.

Thank you, Melissa, for having me. I love your blog and am so happy you let me join you, even though I don’t drink coffee or have a cat…

ABOUT KENDEL LYNN
Kendel Lynn is a Southern California native who now parks her flip-flops in Dallas, Texas. She read her first Alfred Hitchcock and the Three Investigators at the age of seven and has loved mysteries ever since. Her debut novel, BOARD STIFF, won several literary competitions, including the Zola Award for Mystery/Suspense. Along with writing and reading, she spends her time as the managing editor of Henery Press where she acquires, edits, and figures out ways to avoid the gym but still eat cupcakes for dinner.




ABOUT BOARD STIFF
As director of the Ballantyne Foundation on Sea Pine Island, SC, Elliott Lisbon scratches her detective itch by performing discreet inquiries for Foundation donors. Usually nothing more serious than retrieving a pilfered Pomeranian. Until Jane Hatting, Ballantyne board chair, is accused of murder. The Ballantyne’s reputation tanks, Jane’s headed to a jail cell, and Elliott’s sexy ex is the new lieutenant in town.

Armed with moxie and her Mini Coop, Elliott uncovers a trail of blackmail schemes, gambling debts, illicit affairs, and investment scams. But the deeper she digs to clear Jane’s name, the guiltier Jane looks. The closer she gets to the truth, the more treacherous her investigation becomes. With victims piling up faster than shells at a clambake, Elliott realizes she’s next on the killer’s list.

Happy 6th Gotcha Day, Tara!!!

Tara and I are so excited to have our special day featured on The Cat Blogosphere this morning...check it out :)

The Cat That God Sent Blog Tour: Book Review and Character Guest Post

The Trouble With Humans, by Jim Kraus

Hey.

I’m Petey.

From the new book, The Cat That God Sent.(Of course, I’m the main character. I’m a cat. You think I would be a walk-on? Get serious. We’re talking a cat here. A Siberian cat, to boot. Of course the book is about me.)

They asked me to do a blog.

You want to know what bugs me about humans?

One of the things, anyhow.

They spend a lot of time reading, posting, tweeting, Facebooking, blogging, Pinteresting, and whatever else is trending hot these days. Yet they spend very little time just being.

That’s why being a cat is superior to being a real human.

(And don’t get me started on how superior it is to being a dog. Good grief, they are such stupid animals.)

Anyhow, back to humans and their being not human.

Cats are always cats. We always know what it is to be a cat. We always have a keen sense of what makes up a cat. A cat cannot get lost on the web, nor forget to eat or sleep because of some electronic gizmo.

But with humans, well, they spend so much time doing other things, other distracting things, that they have forgotten what it means to just be human, to simply be a person. They can’t look at a sunset without taking a picture of it and posting it for all their electronic chums. Why don’t those chums simply go outside and look for themselves?

Take my advice: Spend a day and watch a cat closely. Sure, we sleep a lot. And eat. And stare off into space. Be we never forget that we are cats and are doing serious cat business. Like catching mice. Like staring at birds through the window. Like sitting on your computer’s keyboard.

Be.

That’s my advice.

Simply be.

I saw this written on a wall somewhere: In walking, just walk. In sitting, just sit. Above all, don’t wobble.

Be a real human for a change and pay attention to the real world—and not that silly black rectangle you keep in your pocket and check obsessively every seven minutes.

That’s all.

Be.

***********************************

My Review: For me, jumping at a chance to review this book was a given because I believe all cats are gifts from God. (My only complaint is He takes them back way too soon.) What looks on the surface to be a whimsical animal story is actually a well-crafted novel featuring an extra special kitty who touches the lives of everyone he comes into contact with.

A new minister, a local vet, a young homeless woman - all who have more in common that is at first apparent - all brought together by a cat named Petey. Petey's internal thoughts on dogs, mice, humans, and his mission made me smile, but ultimately his wisdom shines through with every turn of the page.

DISCLOSURE: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. The fact that I received this book for free did not influence my opinions.

ABOUT THE CAT THAT GOD SENT

Jake Wilkerson, a disillusioned young pastor who is an expert at hiding his fears, takes on a new assignment in a small, rural church in Coudersport, Pennsylvania. It’s a far piece from anywhere and full of curiously odd and eccentric people, including Sally Grainger, a single woman and veterinarian who dismisses all Christians as “those people,” and Tassy, a young runaway with a secret.

His first day on the job, however, Jake is adopted by Petey, a cat of unknown origins and breed, but of great perception. Petey believes that he is on a mission from God to redeem Jake and bring him and his quirky friends back to the truth.

Purchase:

AMAZON | BARNES & NOBLE

ABOUT JIM KRAUS

Jim Kraus is a longtime writer and editor who has authored or co-authored more than 20 books, both fiction and nonfiction. His best-selling humor book, Bloopers, Blunders, Jokes, Quips, and Quotes, was published by Tyndale House Publishers, sold more than 40,000 copies and inspired several spin-off books. Jim, and his wife, novelist Terri Kraus, and one son, live in the Chicago area.

Also residing with them is a sweet and gentle miniature schnauzer named Rufus. Coincidently, Rufus is also the name of the dog in Jim’s recent book, The Dog That Talked to God. “What a coincidence,” Jim said. “What are the odds of that happening?” They also share space with an ill-tempered Siberian cat named Petey. Coincidently, Petey is the name of the cat in Jim’s most current book, The Cat That God Sent, by Abingdon Press.

Jim recently was awarded a Master of Writing Arts degree from DePaul University. “Now, I am able to write more better,” Jim said. (Yes, that is supposed to be humorous.)

Passionate about writing, Jim loves to create true-to-life characters. “I tend to be the one at the party that is on the edge of things–observing how folks act and react. Plus, I’m not that crazy about people in general–so it works out fine.” (Again, it’s supposed to be funny.)

Visit his website at www.jimkraus.com.

Connect with Jim!

FACEBOOK