Quote for the Week

I really love this quote. My whole life, I've been someone who goes where my heart takes me. If I've had a tough choice or needed to resolve a situation, I have always heeded its advice. It's my heart that led me to my husband and to my writing career. The most important thing is to make sure it's your heart your listening to. Never confuse it with the mind or emotions. The heart is clearer than people think and always full of wisdom.

I honestly think if more people stopped and listened to where their heart is directing them, the world would be a better place. You can't hate or go to war when you live in your heart. Take a chance this week and really listen to your heart. See what may open up for you!

Guest Author - Prudence Hayes

When it Rains: The Umbrella Collection

Buy link ~ http://amzn.com/B00AZSCI48

Blurb ~ With rain chasing her at her heels and her fear of rain flowing through her veins, Nora is in a downward spiral mentally and trying to grasp onto anything that will stop her. For many years she has been trying to come to grips with her parent’s death in a car crash and a voice that she incessantly hears in her head that announces only evil.

She lives amongst a testosterone filled family; Pops, her uncles and cousins that have never wavered in their love but are often overshadowed by the darkness that overwhelms her.

With the loss of a friendship, running into the man that killed her parents, and her family confronting her about her issues, all with the sound of the voice echoing throughout, she is brought to the edge of insanity and to her breaking point. Will she win the battle in her mind or will she succumb to defeat?

Bio ~ I have always been swept away in some story that was floating around and evolving in my mind, but, besides for a few times, hesitated putting them down on paper due to the fact that I was worried what others thought. Those stories and screenplays that were written down when I was younger were secretly hidden from everyone’s eyes. After 30 years, I convinced myself that the opinions of others no longer mattered and it was all about how I felt writing. The creative process can be my nemesis at times, but when it feels right, it is the love of my life.

I am the author of WHEN IT RAINS: THE UMBRELLA COLLECTION and BACK INTO THE SUNSHINE.  I currently live in Philadelphia, PA, but who knows where I'll be this time next year.

Excerpt ~

A few moments went by and the scene that I was picturing in my head became a reality. However, as he walked by me and our eyes met, his head just nodded and he kept on walking. His scent that was engrossed in cigarette smoke lingered in my area infiltrating my senses and I picked up a slight odor of alcohol, too. There was no acknowledgment of who I am. No wonderment strewn across his face about whether or not I was the little girl crying her eyes out in the back of the courtroom as his verdict was read.  No apology just a nod in acknowledgement that a person was standing in his walking path.

 

He walked to the same aisle that I saw him in before.  He grabbed a bag of rippled potato chips, then turned his attention to the refrigerator behind him, reached in and grabbed a six pack of the cheapest beer there was. He was done picking up his supplies and headed towards the cashier, but he had to pass me one last time. He noticed that I was still in the same place and watching his every move, so this time he added a smirk across his mouth along with his nod and preceded to the check out.

 

I was stunned and completely grossed out that he looked at me like that. I stood wondering what I should do. Thoughts of a confrontation ran through my mind and immediately were pushed out and the only thing I could bring myself to do was to leave. I stormed out of the store and onto the sidewalk outside, desperately trying to rid myself of the hate that was flowing through my veins. I hated him, of course, for what he had done and that it seems like he has gone on with his life and repeating the same mistakes. I hated myself, too. I didn’t do anything. I couldn’t bring myself to utter a word to him or to even hit him with a bag of potato chips. That was my chance and I let it float by without a fight. I walked around in circles outside the front door of the store and still in disbelief.  I  was about to take a step and begin my walk back home when something stopped me in my tracks, something I had seen on only one other car. It was a “Honk if you love Pussycats” bumper sticker. Thoughts of the courtroom riddled my mind; how the prosecutor repeated that phrase over and over again and pictures of the crushed up cars.  One was a close-up shot of that bumper sticker with a hue of canary yellow as a border.

 

“This has to be his car.” I thought to myself.  Then my instincts kicked in and before I knew it I had bent down and my fingers were wrapped around a rock that was simply lying there as decoration inside of a planter’s box that was around a small tree. I took aim of the car, drew back my arm and launched the rock into the back windshield. Smash!

 

 

 

Author links ~

 

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/pages/Prudence-Hayes-Author/396063893814563?ref=hl

 

Goodreads http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6566850.Prudence_Hayes

 

Twitter https://twitter.com/PrudenceHayes

 

Website www.peaceloveandwriting.wordpress.com

 

Quote for the Week

All women are beautiful; especially to the man that loves them. Treasure yourselves this week and know your own worth!

A Georgian House in Hidden in Shadows!

This is the kind of house I imagine for my new book, Hidden in Shadows, only of course in my story the house is much more run down than this beautifully cared for home. However, it is in the Georgian style, like the above house. I love Regency England and am excited to be setting my new book in one of these beautiful old houses. The style is so magnificent!

Doesn't looking at it make you think of a bygone era? It does me and it certainly does for my heroine, Jenna, when she first steps foot in her new house. Before long, she's seeing more of that time period than she'd care to when she's confronted by the ghosts of owners past. Don't you just love ghostly goings on! Of course, there's a lot more than just ghosts for Jenna to worry about...
I would love to live in a house like that in real life (just not with any ghosts!). Oh well, I'll have to settle with my imagination only (Sigh!). It's good to dream!

Quote for the Week!

I love this quote. It is one of the most wonderful things about love, knowing those that love you will always know when you're in pain and need help. Of course, it goes the other way too. Appreciate someone you love this week and be there for them if they need you!

Hidden in Shadows - Book 1 Haunted by the Past Teaser

Image courtesy of Witthaya Phonsawat at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

That evening a new edition had been added to the For Sale sign that hung outside the old Millington House. It swung happily in the wind, creaking away its announcement to all who wanted to know. The old house had been sold.

One set of eyes upon its declaration were less than happy at the news. The figure moved between the shadows of the trees, crouching into the bushes as it gazed upon the building, standing majestically in the overgrown grounds. A keening cry rose up from deep inside it, tossed into the wind to echo all around.

Would it never be free? So far, its secret had been kept, but for how much longer? If only that old fool hadn’t upped and died, leaving the house vulnerable. Now it had to watch and wait……..and defend. It would have to drive this new owner away, just like the last one. How it wished it could let go, move on. But it couldn’t. It had no choice.

Its secret had to be protected at all costs. It couldn’t afford to let anyone renovate that house. Not that one. The house knew too much.

The past must stay hidden……..

Quote of the Week

This quote really has helped me so many times over the last couple of months. As a new author striking out in the world of Indie Publishing, there have been times when I almost felt like giving up! I am probably not the only one.

If you are a new author also starting out on this road, I'd love to hear from you. It can be really daunting at times, especially when you are learning so many new things. I have been lucky enough to connect with other authors who have helped me, none more than my dear friend Peggy L Henderson, who has been a God send! I truly think I may have thrown in the towel without her wise, kind words and total support!

I have learnt a lot and am excited to keep on with the journey. Every day is a new challenge and a new adventure. I have always wanted to have a career as an author, but had no idea how much went into it. I honestly thought all you had to do was write the book and put it out there. Wow, was I wrong. Suddenly a whole new world loomed up in front of me......marketing! Brrrr! Who knew there was so much to learn about it? And I'm still learning!

But I wouldn't trade this for anything! I have to say being an Indie Author is the best! I almost went down the publishing route, but I eventually decided against it. I love being able to pick my own covers, publish my books when I want to and have total control over the content. There is nothing like it.

So this quote is dedicated to all authors everywhere, especially the new ones, who like me, are working hard at realising their dreams. Don't give up!