Review - 99 Cent Sale Ends September 15, 2016

“The Other Side: Melinda’s Story” is one of those rare paranormal thrillers that challenges as it entertains. Starr's wondrous, chilling tale is the best exploration of paranoia and insular terror since Ira Levin's classic “Rosemary’s Baby.” Supremely crafted, masterfully crafted, and elegantly written, “The Other Side: Melinda’s Story” is a white-knuckled journey on the ride to hell.”

~ Jon Land, bestselling author of “Pandora's Temple”

http://amzn.to/2bi0EIk

Who is Melinda James? A Character Interview

Starting tomorrow, September 2, 2016, you can read Melinda’s Story for 99 CENTS!

I've been posting and tweeting and facebooking about Melinda James. I'm getting emails from people--some I know, others I don't--asking who is Melinda James? To answer that question, I've brought Melinda James here today. She will answer the question and give you some enlightening information about why you should get to know her. In my opinion--I am her creator--she's an enigma. Yes, even to me.

So, without further ado, let me introduce you to Melinda James:

QueenWriter (QW): Melinda, I've been asked by several people who you are. Can you please tell everyone?

Melinda James (MJ): I was created by Starr Gardinier. I'm simply a fictional character.

QW: There must be more you can tell your readers.

MJ: There's a lot I can tell you. Okay, I'll give you a glimpse into my life. That should more than explain why I've been breathed into existence.

As you know, my name is Melinda James. My childhood growing up was pretty typical. That is, until I reached my teenage years. That's when everything started going downhill. I know some of the first things some thought about are typical teenage problems: zits, too fat, other kids making fun, bullies. God, how I wish that's all it was. 

My problems started and ended with death. Not mine, mind you, but some people very close to me. It's a wonder I didn't end up in an insane asylum. Oh wait...I did. Well, to put it simply, death made me crazy. At least, that's what everyone thought. Was I crazy? Am I still crazy?

QW: Are you?

MJ: Crazy? No. At least, my best friends Beth and Trent say I'm not. Even Felicity sees how normal I am. Then again, Dr. Leever might argue with those assumptions.

Anyway, to tell you who I really am, we have to go back in time to when I was thirteen....

***

I tried to tell them it was going to happen, but nobody would listen. They all said I was just having bad dreams, or that I was crazy.

It started at my father’s funeral. It’s been so long since it first began, about eight years ago. Sometimes though, it seems like yesterday. My father was there. No, I don’t mean just in the casket. He was there. He talked to me, begged me to tell Mom that we all needed to run and hide. He said we were all in danger.

I asked him why he didn’t tell Mom himself. He said he tried, but she wasn’t listening. I heard him fine. But I didn’t believe him. Why would we be in danger? We can’t just up and leave. My friends are all here in Beaumont. When I told him that, he said it was important, that it was a matter of life and death. He seemed so worried, but I was so confused, I blew him off.

I guess when it first happened I didn’t pay any heed to his warning. We went on with our lives. Mom was grief stricken, my brother Kyle was in his own world playing videos and I was trying to shut my father out of my mind. Was I going crazy? What was wrong with me? Dad was dead, but I could still see and hear him.

If I tell you the story, will you believe me?

***

QW: Wait. So you're saying your father was dead and he talked to you from the grave?

MJ: From the grave, from wherever. He called it the "Other Side."

QW: Have you been to this "Other Side?"

MJ: Now, you're jumping the gun. I'll answer and say yes, but it's Trent who will tell you that story later on. Starr created him, too and you'll read about him in "The Other Side: Trent's Story." It would be an injustice to Trent to try and explain him to you. Talk about an enigma. I'm like an open book, pun intended, whereas Trent...well, let's just say, Starr really crossed to the "Other Side" to create him.

QW; Is there anything else you can tell us?

MJ: I would love to, but I can't. Starr would be very upset if I told you everything. Just read "The Other Side: Melinda's Story" and you'll have your answers.

QW: Thank you for joining us today, Melinda. It was nice speaking with you.

If you want to know even more about Melinda James, click on any of the links below:

Amazon: http://amzn.to/2bi0EIk

Kobo: http://bit.ly/2aCiTXT

Barnes & Noble: http://bit.ly/2b5xQhY

All Romance Books: http://bit.ly/2b5yOdX

Bookstrand: http://bit.ly/2aTVTT9

Wild Rose Press: http://bit.ly/2b9vK4B

Stay tuned for an in-depth interview with Trent Miller.

HAPPY READING!

Who is Melinda James? A Character Interview

Starting tomorrow, September 2, 2016, you can read Melinda’s Story for 99 CENTS!

I've been posting and tweeting and facebooking about Melinda James. I'm getting emails from people--some I know, others I don't--asking who is Melinda James? To answer that question, I've brought Melinda James here today. She will answer the question and give you some enlightening information about why you should get to know her. In my opinion--I am her creator--she's an enigma. Yes, even to me.

So, without further ado, let me introduce you to Melinda James:

QueenWriter (QW): Melinda, I've been asked by several people who you are. Can you please tell everyone?

Melinda James (MJ): I was created by Starr Gardinier. I'm simply a fictional character.

QW: There must be more you can tell your readers.

MJ: There's a lot I can tell you. Okay, I'll give you a glimpse into my life. That should more than explain why I've been breathed into existence.

As you know, my name is Melinda James. My childhood growing up was pretty typical. That is, until I reached my teenage years. That's when everything started going downhill. I know some of the first things some thought about are typical teenage problems: zits, too fat, other kids making fun, bullies. God, how I wish that's all it was. 

My problems started and ended with death. Not mine, mind you, but some people very close to me. It's a wonder I didn't end up in an insane asylum. Oh wait...I did. Well, to put it simply, death made me crazy. At least, that's what everyone thought. Was I crazy? Am I still crazy?

QW: Are you?

MJ: Crazy? No. At least, my best friends Beth and Trent say I'm not. Even Felicity sees how normal I am. Then again, Dr. Leever might argue with those assumptions.

Anyway, to tell you who I really am, we have to go back in time to when I was thirteen....

***

I tried to tell them it was going to happen, but nobody would listen. They all said I was just having bad dreams, or that I was crazy.

It started at my father’s funeral. It’s been so long since it first began, about eight years ago. Sometimes though, it seems like yesterday. My father was there. No, I don’t mean just in the casket. He was there. He talked to me, begged me to tell Mom that we all needed to run and hide. He said we were all in danger.

I asked him why he didn’t tell Mom himself. He said he tried, but she wasn’t listening. I heard him fine. But I didn’t believe him. Why would we be in danger? We can’t just up and leave. My friends are all here in Beaumont. When I told him that, he said it was important, that it was a matter of life and death. He seemed so worried, but I was so confused, I blew him off.

I guess when it first happened I didn’t pay any heed to his warning. We went on with our lives. Mom was grief stricken, my brother Kyle was in his own world playing videos and I was trying to shut my father out of my mind. Was I going crazy? What was wrong with me? Dad was dead, but I could still see and hear him.

If I tell you the story, will you believe me?

***

QW: Wait. So you're saying your father was dead and he talked to you from the grave?

MJ: From the grave, from wherever. He called it the "Other Side."

QW: Have you been to this "Other Side?"

MJ: Now, you're jumping the gun. I'll answer and say yes, but it's Trent who will tell you that story later on. Starr created him, too and you'll read about him in "The Other Side: Trent's Story." It would be an injustice to Trent to try and explain him to you. Talk about an enigma. I'm like an open book, pun intended, whereas Trent...well, let's just say, Starr really crossed to the "Other Side" to create him.

QW; Is there anything else you can tell us?

MJ: I would love to, but I can't. Starr would be very upset if I told you everything. Just read "The Other Side: Melinda's Story" and you'll have your answers.

QW: Thank you for joining us today, Melinda. It was nice speaking with you.

If you want to know even more about Melinda James, click on any of the links below:

Amazon: http://amzn.to/2bi0EIk

Kobo: http://bit.ly/2aCiTXT

Barnes & Noble: http://bit.ly/2b5xQhY

All Romance Books: http://bit.ly/2b5yOdX

Bookstrand: http://bit.ly/2aTVTT9

Wild Rose Press: http://bit.ly/2b9vK4B

Stay tuned for an in-depth interview with Trent Miller.

HAPPY READING!

Welcome Christy Effinger!

Today, I'm pleased to feature author Christy Effinger. Her poetry, fiction, and essays have appeared in various print and online publications.

But today, we're here to talk about her latest novel. Released on August 29, 2014, "Say Nothing of What you See" is a Paranormal New Adult.

Christy offers us some information about this novel.

When her aunt steps off a grain elevator into the emptiness of a prairie evening, Mira Piper loses her one protector. Chloe, her flighty mother, impulsively drags her daughter to Bramblewood, an isolated spiritualist retreat in northern Michigan, run by the enigmatic Dr. Virgil Simon.

Chloe plans to train as a medium, but it's Mira who discovers she can communicate with the dead. When her mother abandons her, Mira discovers a darker aspect to Bramblewood: the seemingly kind doctor has a sinister side and a strange control over his students.

Then one winter's day Troy Farrington arrives, to fulfill his mother's dying wish and deliver her letter to the doctor. But calamity strikes and he finds himself a captive, tended by a sympathetic Mira. Haunted by her dead aunt and desperate to escape Bramblewood, Mira makes a devil's deal with Dr. Simon. But fulfillment comes with a steep cost...betrayal. 

And Christy is generously allowing us to take a peek inside. Here's an excerpt:

“You are absolutely stunning, Mira.”

I stole another glance in the mirror. The material was a rich, shimmery gold that fell from my shoulders in folds of liquid light. It looked like something a Greek goddess might wear. Oh, how I wished the girls from Amberville High School could see me in this dress!

“When you came here,” said Dr. Simon, “I had a vision of you like this. I looked at the girl before me, but I saw the woman you are now.”

“Thank you,” I murmured, gesturing toward the piles of clothes on my bed. “You’ve been so generous. I know you’ve spent a good deal of money on me—”

“Money means nothing,” he interrupted abruptly. “I have more than I could ever spend, more than I know what to do with. Don’t consider the cost.”

His tone was brusque, and I wondered if I had offended him.

But the next moment Dr. Simon smiled. “I think of you as my charity case. You were like a doll thrown out in the garbage. I simply rescued you from the trash, cleaned you up, and dressed you in something decent. But the beauty was present all along.” He touched my cheek. “Here.” Then he touched my forehead. “Here.” Then he touched my chest. “And here.”

I knew he was referring to my heart, but even so, his hand on my chest made my face warm with discomfort.

“You blush so easily,” he laughed. “You’ll never be able hide anything, Mira, with such a transparent face.”

“That’s all right,” I said, taking a small step back. “I don’t have anything to hide.”

"Say Nothing of What you See" can be purchased at:

The Wild Rose Press:

http://www.wildrosepublishing.com/maincatalog_v151/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=242_177_139&products_id=5772

Amazon:

http://www.amazon.com/Say-Nothing-What-You-See-ebook/dp/B00MW5HTZ0/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&sr=1-1&qid=1409

BN.com

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/say-nothing-of-what-you-see-christy-effinger/1120219553?ean=2940150511323:

I was able to get in touch with Christy and ask her a few questions. Check out her 'for fun' questions at the end of the interview.

Starr for QueenWriter News (QW): Tell us a bit about your background that we won't find in your bio.

           

Christy Effinger (CE): For as long as I can remember, I have loved the written word. My first job at sixteen was shelving books at the public library. In college, I worked as a writing tutor while majoring in English, and in graduate school I taught freshman composition as part of my master’s degree. After grad school, I taught English for several years at an urban community college. Through all of this, my dream was to one day be a professional writer with a book of my own in print. I am finally living that dream. 

QW: Tell us what inspired you to write "Say Nothing of What You See."

CE: I’ve long been interested in cults, communes, and other fringe groups. The follower mentality perplexes me. Why will some people do whatever they’re told, even to the point of mistreating others? The fascinating thing about humans is that we can rationalize anything.

Say Nothing began as an exploration into power, control, and jealousy—but also love, which is stronger than the other three. Stronger than anything, really.

QW: Other than the synopsis of your book, tell us why you think readers will enjoy it.

CE: A reviewer at Tome Tender called it, “A tale of darkness and despair at the hands of a madman . . . fabulous reading.” I hope readers looking for a suspenseful story set in an eerie atmosphere will enjoy this book.

QW: Your website indicates you also write short works, such as poetry. Where do you get your inspiration for your poetry?

CE: My poetry is much more personal than my fiction. Most of my poems are interpretations or reflections on what happens to me in real life.

QW: What other short works have you written, published or not?

CE: Besides poetry, I’ve written short stories, flash fiction, and short essays. My short work has been published in print and online literary journals. I’ve compiled a list with hyperlinks on my website.

QW: Do you believe in writer's block? If so, has this happened to you? And if so, what do you do to get past it?

CE: I do believe in writer’s block, but I’ve always managed to work through it and find my way again. Writer’s block has never caused me any long-term paralysis. (I hope I didn’t just jinx myself!)

QW: What's next on your writing list? Are you currently penning this or is this in the 'thinking' stage?

CE: I’m currently editing my WIP, so I’ve begun thinking about my next project. It’s still in the planning stage. I hope to begin writing it soon.

For fun:

QW: Complete the following sentence: "If I had one day to do something other than writing, I would ..."

CE: I would spend the day at the beach with my husband, fruity rum drinks, and a good book.

QW: Name two things you hate and two things you love.

CE: I hate soggy bread and being stuck in traffic. I love windy spring days and bubble baths.  

QW: You can bring one book, one movie, and one music CD to a remote island. What would those be?

CE: The book: "Good Poems," an anthology edited by Garrison Keillor. The movie: Young Frankenstein. The CD: Ceremonials by Florence + the Machine. 

Thank you, Christy, for taking time to speak with me and your readers and fans. Christy lives near Indianapolis. If you want to know more about Christy and her work, you can visit her at: 

Website: http://christyeffinger.com

Facebook: http://facebook.com/christyeffinger

Tumblr: http://christyeffinger.tumblr.com

Twitter: http://twitter.com/christyeffinger

Goodreads: http://goodreads.com/christyeffinger

Google+: http://google.com/+christyeffinger

Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/christyeffinger