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Crow Moon by Suzie Aspley#Extract #Giveaway #AMarthaStrangewaysInvestigationBook1

  I am delighted to introduce the first in a new series by debut writer, Suzie Aspley . The atmospheric thriller, Crow Moon was published by Orenda on March 14th. Today I have an extract for you to read and the chance to win a print copy of Crow Moon . Details on how to enter are at the foot of this post. When the crow moon rises, the darkness is unleashed… Martha Strangeways is struggling to find purpose in her life, after giving up her career as an investigative reporter when her young twins died in a house fire. Overwhelmed by guilt and grief, her life changes when she stumbles across the body of a missing teenager – a tragedy that turns even more sinister when a poem about crows is discovered inked onto his back... When another teenager goes missing in the remote landscape, Martha is drawn into the investigation, teaming up with DI Derek Summers, as malevolent rumours begin to spread and paranoia grows. As darkness descends on the village of Strathbran, it soon becomes

Kindred Spirits Regal Retribution by Jennifer C Wilson #AuthorGuestPost

 

Today I am delighted to welcome author Jennifer C Wilson to the blog to talk about her novel, Kindred Spirits: Regal Retribution which is the sixth book  in her Kindred Spirits series. It was published on August 8th and is written in the paranormal historical fiction genre. Before we hear from Jennifer, here's a little about the book:

 

A visit to London’s West End sends an already angry ghost into a fury, vowing revenge on those he believes have wronged him in life (and in death).

Soon, the attacks begin – across the city and beyond – revealing that rarest of beings: haunted ghosts!

When a pattern starts to emerge, a council is established to formulate a plan, but can they work out who is behind the hauntings? As the severity escalates, can the combined force stop the avenging spirit, before the worst happens?

Bringing together the ghostly communities of the Tower of London, Westminster Abbey and other places, discover friendships and feuding in the race to retaliation…


 

Welcome to Books, Life and Everything Jennifer! Do tell us more about your latest in the Kindred Spirits series!

 

Expanding the Kindred Spirits world

Kindred Spirits: Regal Retribution is the sixth book in the Kindred Spirits series, along with short stories here and there in anthologies, and it was released just shy of seven years after the first book, Kindred Spirits: Tower of London, was released, back in October 2015. The Tower, and that first story, still holds a special place in my writer’s heart, and so it was great fun to return to some of my favourite ghosts in this story. Richard III and Anne Boleyn are back, as are their brothers, the two Georges, my fabulous trouble-makers, and young Katherine Howard. As soppy as it sounds, it really was like reuniting with old friends.

But as much as I loved getting to know the ghosts of the Tower of London, back in 2013 when I first wrote about them, I couldn’t stay with them, and just them, forever.

Because once I’d written about the ghosts ‘living’ in one historical setting, other settings, and groups, just kept jumping out at me (much like some of the ghosts themselves!). I’ve always enjoyed visiting historical buildings and sites, pottering around, wondering about the lives of the people who were there before me. With the Kindred Spirits world gradually cementing itself into my mind, that started to shift slightly: who might be about, and what might they be up to? Who would get on? Who really wouldn’t? (Let’s face it, feuds can be far more fun than friendships, as long as you’re not the one actually in the feud!)

Westminster Abbey seemed an obvious choice, but I’ll admit I was anxious, and instead, headed, in my mind at least, in entirely the opposite direction, to Edinburgh and the Royal Mile. After all, that’s one of the spots where my ghostly version of Mary, Queen of Scots would be residing. I’d been trying to write about her for years, but never quite managed to find the best way to approach her. Suddenly, having her as a ghost seemed the perfect solution.

And so the pattern continued. I finally mustered the courage to head back to London, and the Abbey, for the third book in the series, before York, and finally, a collection of short stories, pulling together several places that I was drawn to, but where I didn’t feel there was quite enough story for a full book. As part of that, I took the opportunity to return to the Tower of London, as well as Windsor Castle, which formed the inspiration for the current tale, again set in a number of places throughout London and beyond, and following the largest cast of main characters I’ve written about so far.

The only trouble with the whole concept is that I keep discovering ghosts who could have, or should have, been in earlier stories, or having new ideas of new pairings I’d love to throw together. The most recent of these has had me pondering how the spirits of Anne Boleyn and her daughter, Elizabeth I, would get along in the afterlife. They had so little time together when alive, and opinions of Anne Boleyn changed so repeatedly in the years following her death, that it would surely be a fascinatingly complex relationship to explore.

At the other end of the scale, as a huge fan of Eric and Ernie, I’d love to somehow (respectfully) bring their spirits into things. I’ve written a few snippets here and there which have never seen the light of day, but again, it’s about getting the context right. Still, never say never! And that’s the best thing, for me, about writing the Kindred Spirits series – I’m never going to run out of ghosts… As long as people keep enjoying them, and as long as every so often, I can bring Richard III back into things!

Wow! That sounds fascinating and anyone who loves the Tudor period is going to love this! Thanks so much for stopping by. 

 

About the Author


 Jennifer has been stalking dead monarchs since she was a child. It started with Mary, Queen of Scots, then moved onto Richard III. At least now it results in a story!

She won North Tyneside Libraries' Story Tyne short story competition in 2014 (no dead monarchs, but still not a cheerful read), and has been filling notebooks and hard-drives ever since. Her Kindred Spirits series, following the 'lives' of some very interesting ghostly communities, is published by Darkstroke, and her historical romances by Ocelot Press.

Jennifer is currently exploring some new ideas for historical romance, and hoping to visit Kindred Spirit friends old and new, north of the border...

You can read my review of The Last Plantagenet? here and The Raider's Heart here.
  
You can follow Jennifer here: Website  |  Facebook   |  Twitter 
                                              |  Instagram  |  Amazon Author Page
 
 Book link:  Amazon US  |  Amazon UK 
 
Thanks to Jennifer and to Rachel of Rachel's Random Resources  for the guest post and a place on the tour. 

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