Christmas in July, unwrap a summer ebook blog blitz, welcomes Carmen Stefanescu
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The discovery of a bejeweled cross and ancient human bones opens a door to a new and frightening world--one where the ghost of a medieval nun named Genevieve will not let Anne rest. This new world threatens not only to ruin Anne and Neil's vacation but to end all hopes of reconciliation as Anne feels compelled to help free Genevieve's soul from its torment.
Can Anne save her relationship and help Genevieve find her eternal rest?
The twists and turns in this paranormal tale keep the reader guessing up to the end and weave themselves together into a quest to rekindle love.
Fantasy Fiction the Trendy Genre?
A study at
the end of the year 2012 indicates a decline in reading books: 28% of the
people reply they don't like to read and 26% say they have no time to do it. Of
the few who say they are fond of reading, the vast majority, say that they
enjoy reading - fantasy fiction.
From Game of Thrones by G.R.R. Martin to Harry Potter by J. K. Rowling the bug
of fantasy fiction has become viral. The name of J.R. R. Tolkien is more known
than those of stars in show business. Hunger
Games and Suzanne Collins rocketed to the sky especially after the first
volume of the series was screened. There are people who say, "If you want
to get rich write fantasy fiction."
There may
be some truth in it if we consider J. K. Rowling is richer than the Queen of
England.
We speak of
a phenomenon that can't be denied and is obviously reflected in the book sales:
our society favors fantasy fiction.
Why is
that? In my humble opinion, fantasy fiction offers its readers something that
targets a part of themselves - the child within each of them. A child who
dreams that one day he'll walk through the enchanted forest, sit at the table
with the fairies and perhaps find the never ending youth.
Escape from
reality or "Scheherazade syndrome", call it as you like, the
explanation for the success of the genre can be easily explained. This type of
literature allows us to be free. It creates a world without boundaries or
limitations, a world where nobody can force you to do something you don't want or
like; a world in which there's no "impossible" and the good character
usually wins through, if only in the long run. Imaginary
worlds, magic, supernatural phenomena are fundamental elements for fantasy
fiction, and make believe is the basic defining word for this most beloved
genre of literature. In fantasy, we may go to a simpler time
and world - the world as we wish it might be.
And yet,
the advent of fantasy fiction started not with the above mentioned famous
books, but way back, with The Epic of Gilgamesh,
The Beowulf, Mahabharata and The One
Thousand and One Nights, as myth and legend have been an important part of human
culture since its beginning. Literature began with these stories
which can be read at ease by a 10 -year-old as well as by an adult.
My novel Shadows of the Past, released by Wild Child Publishing on 4th December
2012, displays elements that can include it in the fantasy genre: ghosts, magic
and witches. Psychic powers is added as a bonus, allowing the characters to
foresee upcoming events or guess if the person in front of them is a
"good" or "bad" one.
Please check out Cartmen's Latest book, Shadows of the past, and enjoy this excerpt.
"Come, we should leave at once," she said and glanced nervously
over her shoulder. "Something terrible happened after you left for town. I
think the Abbess found out about us. Our meeting in Uncle Ryan's cabin is no
longer a secret. We have been overheard. For all I know someone spies on us
even as we speak. I think the Abbess, or one of her 'friends,' is hovering
somewhere nearby and listening to every word."
Andrew pulled Genevieve to his chest. "Do you regret you've come
with me?"
Passion smothered Genevieve's doubt and guilt. "Never," she
answered, aware of her body's response to his touch, and she succumbed to his
embrace.
Calming the gnawing unease in her mind and the
thought of Sister Dominica guessing she was the dough of a sinner, Genevieve
repeated, "Never."
With her eyes closed and their
bodies touching she became, for the very first time, simply a woman. She melted
in his embrace in spite of the invisible vicious threat breathing around them.
Aware they might never be alone again, she fought hard to silence the voice of
conscience berating her.
"Oh, God. Please forgive
me," Andrew muttered under his breath when he bowed his head to kiss her.
Their lips met in a passionate first kiss.
Genevieve's spirits fell and her
heart skipped a beat when, a couple of seconds later, she opened her eyes and
her gaze fell on a knot strangers.
… . .
.
Tears welled in Anne's eyes,
blurring her vision. She couldn’t explain them, or the sudden sadness seeping
into her heart. This should’ve been a moment of happiness or, at least,
contentment. She was with Neil again, and the outcome of their trip together
should, very likely, bring their reconciliation. Why then did she seem detached
from where she stood?
Anne shivered. Why the deep feeling of having seen this place, this
forest before? And why the eerie sensation of being present here only in the
body, while her mind was far away?
Away from the forest.
Away from Neil, the man who'd betrayed her trust and her love.
An onrush of sensations unfamiliar
to her followed. Dizziness and a malevolent feeling of unreality suffocated
her.
Anne edged cautiously closer to the rim of the bare cliff. Her foot
tapped the edge. It seemed solid. She stared into the darkness of the abyss at
her feet. It echoed the shadows in her heart. An unusual curiosity took hold of her. Should
she step ahead? What was down there? Other human bones? Another mystery? The
presence of evil, creeping up and enveloping her, became almost palpable. The
vines of fog folded around her, dragging her to the depth. Her throat turned
dry, and she gasped for air.
Megan's face contorted, the voice no longer
pleasant. A hoarse gurgle, spluttering distorted words, "Yes, come... I'm
waiting... I've been waiting for you for such a long time..."
Carmen
Stefanescu was born in Romania, the native country of the infamous vampire
Count Dracula, but where, for about 50 years of communist dictatorship, just
speaking about God, faith, reincarnation or paranormal phenomena could have led
someone to great trouble - the psychiatric hospital if not to prison.
Teacher of English and German in her native country and mother of two daughters, Carmen Stefanescu survived the grim years of oppression, by escaping in a parallel world, that of the books.
Teacher of English and German in her native country and mother of two daughters, Carmen Stefanescu survived the grim years of oppression, by escaping in a parallel world, that of the books.
She
has dreamed all her life to become a writer, but many of the things she wrote
during those years remained just drawer projects. The fall of the Ceausescu’s
regime in 1989 and the opening of the country to the world meant a new
beginning for her. She started publishing. Poems first, and then prose. Both in
English.
Find her on:
Buy Link: Amazon
Buy Link: Barnes& Noble
Please visit these other sites and leave a comment to win a $10 GFC to Wild CHild Publishing/
Critters at the Keyboard . . .
Blog by Imagine
D.A.Bell
William Gibbons
Highland Rogue Writing
There is no Spoon
Dear Reader
Shadows of the Past
Audrey Cuff
Shanbreen
Authors Blog Blitz, what a wonderful way to discover new authors, who they are and how they do what they do. Love the water theme. DAB
ReplyDeleteI agree with D.B, and wish all the participants in the tour to get the most desired attention their work deserves from readers all over the world.
ReplyDeleteDeepest appreciation to the initiator of the tour.
Looking good, S.R.! Thanks for all your work.
ReplyDeleteGreat site! I have always loved fantasy. I agree that it seems to have become way more mainstream.
ReplyDeleteThank you for featuring one of my favorite paranormal authors and reads this year. Really enjoyed her book. Paulette
ReplyDelete