This week I’ve been tagged for the Next Big Thing Blog Hop!

I was tagged by author Malena Lott/Lena Brown last week. You can check out her post here.

“A blog hop is like a giant game of tag to help readers discover authors who are new to them. For this hop, authors are answering 10 questions about what we’re working on now.”

Here is my Next Big Thing!

1: What is the working title of your book?
My novella is currently untitled. However it is story #3 in my Supernatural Teen Hunter series with Jaz & Blake!

2: Where did the idea come from for the book?
I’m a big paranormal fan and I really enjoy action-adventure. So I thought wouldn’t it be fun to write about two teen monster hunters with lots of monsters and plenty of suspense?

3: What genre does your book come under?
Paranormal Young Adult

4: Which actors would you choose to play your characters in a movie rendition?
I’ve been asked before and I always hesitate….possibly Vanessa Hudgens as Jazz and maybe Liam Hemsworth as Blake. I don’t really know! Haha.

5. What is the one-sentence synopsis of your book?
Supernatural #3 – Jaz and Blake are orphans, never really knowing where they’ve come from, someone from Jaz’s past arrives to try and break up Jaz & Blake’s content life with with Oz, while they battle someone – or something – they’ve never battled before. I know a pretty long sentence!

6: Is your book self-published, published by an independent publisher, or represented by an agency?
My Supernatural Teen stories are published with Buzz Books, USA.

7: How long did it take you to write the first draft of your manuscript?
My first two stories, “Darkness Becomes Him” and “Mermania” took about 3-4 weeks to write. They are both short stories, and I’m excited to go a longer length with story #3.

8: What other books would you compare this story to within your genre?
Possibly action adventure like that of Rachel Caine’s Morganville stories but of course, a spin of my own fun characters and adventures!

9: Who or what inspired you to write this book?
My children inspire me to keep working hard, and great storytellers inspire me to write the best story I can.

10: What else about your book might pique the reader’s interest?
Not only are there monsters, supernatural teen hunters, but I couldn’t write my book without some romance!

Amazon – print | ebook
Buzz Books
B & N 

How can you not be fascinated with Merpeople? Part human, part fish. The many myths and legends that have created tall tales and not mention awesome movies. When I write a short story it’s as if I can write anything. Touch on any topic I would like. And for this collection I decided to have fun with my fascination with the mermaid.

For those of you curious, I’d thought I’d share a quick excerpt from my short story “Mermania”:

“What the hell was I doing walking around half- naked?”

“That’s what I’d like to know,” Blake said.

My arms were crossed as I paced back and forth in the War room. The brain fog I’d been feeling for the past hour had lifted. But there was a big black hole in my memory and I couldn’t recall anything after Blake had left earlier that evening. Oz was flipping pages of an ancient book. When that didn’t give him what he wanted, he grumbled under his breath, and picked up the heavy tome, then dropped it on the floor with a thud. Next, he heaved another old book onto his desk. Dust scattered and he sneezed.

He rubbed at his pointy nose with a handkerchief. “Only a few magical creatures can take away memories. Vampires—”

Whirling toward him, my hand flew to my neck. “Vamps!”

“—use glamour to make humans see or believe anything. Blake, check for vampire bites.”

Blake stepped toward me and removed my hand from my neck. He turned me left, then right. “Not seeing any.”

“We’ll need a full body scan.”

“Get over yourselves!” I screeched.

“That you may do yourself, Jaz.”

“Gee, thanks.”

“Fairies and witches can conjure up spells to glamour humans. Or there are Merpeople.”

“You got to be kidding me.” Blake spoke up fascinated. “You mean like Mermaids?”

“Oh yes, my magical boy. There are many mystical creatures in our world. They used to roam the Earth without concealing themselves but once the written word began to document their existence and they began to be preyed upon by norms—and of course by hunters like yourselves—all mystical beings began to hide to save their well-being.”

“Trippy.”

Yeah, okay, so my character says “Trippy.”

Anyhoo–today, I’m continuing the “Trick or Treat Blog Tour” to help spread the word of SOMETHING WICKED. Buzz Books has to put together an ultimate SOMETHING WICKED PARTY PACK. Yes, it is wicked, all right. Check out all the goodies here and how you can win it.

And this week, I’ll be offering up a TREAT, my little sweeties. Okay, I just felt like I saying that. Vistors may leave a comment to be considered for Buzz Books’s SOMETHING WICKED PARTY PACK and from me you may leave a comment to be entered to win a copy of PROM DATES TO DIE FOR and SOMETHING WICKED. You know, like a combo pack, just without the French fries.

Here’s the schedule for the Trick or Treat Blog tour (October 1 -6):

Monday: Heather Dearly blogging at Book End Babes
Tues: Kelly Parra
Wed: Mari Hestekin
Thurs. Jenny Peterson
Friday: Malena Lott (aka Lena Brown)
Saturday: Aaron Smith

I’ll announce a winner for my combo pack on October 12th.

Can I get a “Woot, woot!”

Again, thanks for stopping by and happy commenting!

Cool cover, huh? Be sure to look out for SOMETHING WICKED in October. Buzz Books is also doing some fun things for book parties. Check out the deets on the SW Buzz page or “like” the SOMETHING WICKED facebook page to stay up-to-date. Thanks!!

“I’ve heard things about you guys… strange things.”

I didn’t have to look at Blake to know a smile curved his mouth. I studied the girl standing in front of us, from her tiny designer boots to her preppy clothes to the sleek blonde hair. Her cheeks were pale, her eyes a little too wide. She said her name was Alexandria.

“Yeah, what kind of things,” I said, and bit into my apple.

She glanced over her shoulder at the other high school preps mulling around Westside High during lunch break, reached into her back pocket and pulled something out.

Blake bumped me aside as he snatched it away from the girl’s hand.

I cursed as my half-eaten apple hit dirt.

“It can’t be…” he murmured.

The girl stepped back. “W-what? What is it?”

Blake moved closer, likely giving her the iced blue intensity of his gaze. I knew that look. We’d caught another case. “Where did you get this?”

She swallowed. “My boyfriend. There’s something wrong with him. He’s not the same since last week. I’ve been finding these all over. We’re supposed to go to prom in a few days. I need help. Your kind of help. Tiffany Wiser. She told me about you. How you helped her a few months back.”

Yeah, the Tiffany girl, filed under Z for Zombie. As in, the infection of her brother. We’d caught it early enough before there was no going back for the kid.

“Okay, we’ll help you,” Blake said.

“For a price,” I cut in from behind Blake. We had to eat.

“I heard. But I don’t have much money. I work at Donna’s Diner. I close Tuesday and Thursdays. I can hook you up with some hot meals.”

Score.

“Give us your contact info. We’ll be in touch,” Blake told her. With a look of relief, Alexandria handed Blake a paper with her cell number and email.

“Listen, just don’t tell anybody what you’re helping me with, okay?” Alexandria turned and jogged away.

“So,” I said, and peered over his shoulder. “What’s so interesting?”

A feather. Glistening black with silver dust.

Blake ran his fingers over the fine surface. “It’s an angel feather.”

“What? That’s impossible.”

“No. It’s angel all right.”

“You mean—”

“A dark angel.”

Hope you enjoyed that little peek! Get your copy today at the following retailers:

Buzz Books USA
Amazon – Print | Kindle
Barnes & Noble Nook

May 1st is the official release date and you’ll be able to read 5 Prom stories with a paranormal twist!

A Night They’ll Never Forget. Five young adult authors cordially invite readers to five proms with a paranormal twist: – In Kelly Parra’s “Darkness Becomes Him,” teen supernatural hunters are hired to save a prom date hungry for souls. – Heather Dearly introduces us to a young reaper haunted by a past she doesn’t remember in “The Bone Flower.” – A prom queen seeks justice and revenge in Lena Brown’s, “Every Breath You Take.” – Aaron Smith gives us a loner musician called to save his classmates from an enemy only he can see in “A Kiss at the Threshold.” – Jenny Peterson’s heroine gets much more than she wished for on her prom night and 18th birthday in “Tonight, You’re Mine.” Frightful, fun and unforgettable.

Here’s what two of my awesome friends have said about the anthology so far…

“Prom Dates to Die For is a deliciously dark collection of prom-gone-wrong stories guaranteed to keep you curled up on the couch until you reach the end.” ~ Amanda Ashby ~ author of Zombie Queen of Newbury High and Fairy Bad Day

“Prom as you’ve never imagined it, with five talented authors unleashing their paranormal best in this memorable, page-turning anthology. Appearances by a dark angel, a ghost, a soul stealer, a demon hunter and a time portal help make Prom Dates to Die For a guaranteed pleaser for young adults and adult readers alike!” ~ Tina Ferraro, author of Top Ten Uses for an Unworn Prom Dress and The ABC’s of Kissing Boys.

PROM DATES TO DIE FOR will be available in print and ebook. Pre-order your print copy today at the following links:

Buzz Books USA
Amazon

Thank you for your support! Stay tuned for a short excerpt of “Darkness Becomes Him” and details on giveaways and blog tours with Buzz Books USA!

Deadly Treats – an anthology of entertaining Halloween shorts – is free for your kindle until MIDNIGHT tonight (APRIL 18th, 2012). My story “Graveyard Soul Sucker” is part of this great collection. Get it while you can!

The Orchard by Theresa Weir.

Reading Theresa’s story was like reading about someone I didn’t know. The writing was so involving and exquisite that I had to stop reading, telling myself this is a real story. These events happened to someone. Someone I’ve known for years.

The truth is I’ve never met Theresa in person. We’d become friends on-line. And like many of her on-line friends, I’d learned bits and pieces of her life, learned some of her likes and dislikes, read her wonderful books, and now reading The Orchard, I felt I didn’t know as much about Theresa as I had thought. In fact, turning every page I felt like I was invading her privacy.

But she is sharing her private story with everyone. And I can’t tell you how incredibly brave that is.

I told her before I read the memoir that I was worried about crying. And knowing what the outcome would be, I thought I would get through it without shedding a tear. But once I reached the near end, I felt uncontrollable sadness.

I couldn’t not cry. I couldn’t stop myself from feeling.

If my husband hadn’t been next to me, I would have cried harder than I had in a long time. You reach an age where you learn to hold back your emotions, and as it was I let the tears roll down my cheeks as I wiped them with my hand. Again and again.

Even now I feel like I shouldn’t be sharing Theresa’s secrets, and I’m not. Yet this is the experience you will receive from this memoir. As if you’re sharing in her past, like you were there, watching over her shoulder all those years as she speaks to you about innocence lost, love gained, cherished, and pain endured, while the apple farm surrounds every aspect of one woman’s family in a way that is never forgotten…just like the memoir The Orchard.

This collection of Halloween short stories features witches, zombies, vampires, food critics, crazy writers, ghosts, suburban housewives, and aliens.

How cool is that?

Deadly Treats is published by Nodin Press, and available for order in paperback from Barnes & Noble and Amazon (Temporarily out of stock due to pre-orders! With more on the way).

Here is an excerpt on my story, “Graveyard Soul Sucker.” If you get a chance to pick up a copy, please let us know what you think!

Here are blurbs for the 19 stories included:

1. Patrica Abbott, The Angel Deeb

When a pickpocket begins to have serious health isssues, he finds himself contemplating a new line of work. If you’ve never read Patti Abbott, you’re in for a treat.

2. Bill Cameron, Sunlight Nocturne

Ex-cop Skin Kadash spends Halloween day building a bat house with his neighbor, four-year-old Danny, while helicopters circle overhead looking for a murderer who might be hiding nearby. This wonderful story skillfully contrasts a lazy fall day with a brutal murder and police search. Bill Cameron writes crime fiction, and is the award-winning author of Lost Dog, Day One, and the recently released County Line published by Tyrus Books.

3. Pat Dennis, Dead Line

Sibling rivalry and a suburban Halloween decorating contest cause Kate to take a pitchfork to her sister’s yard display. Pat is a stand-up comic, popular writing instructor, publisher, and published author.

4. David Housewright, Time of Death

A young girl under arrest for the brutal murder of her cheating boyfriend attempts to convince the investigator that she is innocent, claiming the murder was committed by a ghost. David is an Edgar-winning author, and writing instructor at the Loft Literary Center in Minneapolis.

5. Stephen Blackmoore, World’s Greatest Dad

By the time Franklin Delacorte wakes up, he’s been dead six hours and is unsure of how he feels about his sons turning him into a zombie. When Franklin’s behavior gets out of control, the boys feel compelled to undo what they’ve done, but Daddy knows best, and Franklin doesn’t want to stay dead. Stephen Blackmoore has an uncanny skill for writing black humor, and World’s Greatest Dad is a hilarious zombie tour de force. Look for his upcoming DAW release, City of the Lost, January, 2012.

5. Heather Dearly, Troubled Water

The anniversary of two deaths brings about the return of the Grim Reaper to Anya Madjigijik’s house on Cemetery Road. A haunting, moody, and beautifully written tale by this previously unpublished author.

6. Mark Hull, Friday Night Dining with Marianne

It’s Halloween, and a food critic finds herself dining on chubby Boy Scout, mountaineer eyeballs, and sea monkeys. If Bram Stoker had written comedy, it would look exactly like this. Mark Hull’s Friday Night Dining is pure charm and delight from beginning to end.

7. Leandra Logan, You Called

A bitter, lonely woman spends Friday nights drinking cheap wine and entertaining herself by redialing the days unanswered calls to harass telemarketers. But she finally meets her match. Leandra is a multi-published, bestselling author.

8. Marilyn Victor, The Ogre of Her Dreams

Fledging witch Aurora Piddleworth wants a soulmate, and she blackmails instructor Olympia Dalrymple into creating the man of her dreams.This is a clever, well-drawn, delightful story from beginning to end. Marilyn Victor is half of the crime-fiction writing team of Marilyn Victor and Michael Allen Mallory, known for their zoo mysteries.

9. Julia Buckley, Motherly Intuition

A mother’s job is never done, and death is no reason to keep Daphne’s mother from looking out for her daughter. Julia Buckley always delights, and Motherly Intuition is a great showcase for her charm and humor. Julia is author of the Madeline Mann series

10. Lance Zarimba, Fangs and All

It’s love at first bite for Billy Joe Jim Bob when he brings his first vampire home in this hilarious and deliberately cliché-packed story. Lance is a multi-published author.

11. L.K. Rigel, Slurp!

Feed your Muse takes on a whole new meaning when a writer has a breakdown on Halloween. A wicked, fresh, and clever tale by a talented writer.

12. Kelly Lynn Parra, Graveyard Soul Sucker

It’s Halloween, and group of college students visit a graveyard in an attempt to reanimate a dead serial killer with a ritual found in an ancient book of spells. Kelly Parra is the award-winning author of Graffiti Girl and the more recent Carina Press release, Criminal Instinct.

13. Jason Evans, She Came on the October Wind

A stray black cat appears nightly at Natalie’s window, bringing with it memories of a sister who ran away years earlier. Jason is the author of the blog, The Clarity of Night, where he hosts and judges a popular flash-fiction contest.

14. Paula L. Fleming, Tricks, Treats, and Terror in Tin Lake

Halloween is the one day of the year when alien Adeela can shed her costume and walk freely among the humans. Paula L. Fleming is a short-story writer and busy freelance editor living in Minneapolis.

15. Shirley Damsgaard, Bewitched

So what if you don’t have the right ingredients to cast a spell? Rachel buys a magic book from an antique store and uses household ingredients to bring Mr. Right back into her life. Shirley is the author of the popular Ophelia and Abby mysteries.

16. Anne Frasier, The Replacement

After a young man is reanimated, he has forty-eight hours to find a replacement for his empty grave if he wants to remain above ground. The best candidate for replacement is the man who murdered him. Anne is a USA Today bestselling author. Her memoir, The Orchard (Theresa Weir), hits stores September 21.

17. Paul D. Brazill, This Old House

If you want a job done right, do it yourself. Or in the case of This Old House, never hire an idiot to burn down your home. Paul is a resident of Poland and brings a fun, unique voice to the mix.

18. Michael Allan Mallory, Boo!

A lonely widower discovers that his old Halloween pranks no longer cut it with the new generation of jaded kids who are too old for trick-or-treat anyway. But when an unexpected visitor shows up at the widower’s door, they hatch a plot the teenagers won’t forget. Michael Allan Mallory is the co-author of Killer Instinct and Death Roll.

19. Daniel Hatadi, Playpen

When eight-year-old Tim vanishes while playing in Kids Playhouse, his best friend Manny must solve the crime and convince adults that there is more to Tim’s disappearance than a human abduction or childish prank. Daniel Hatadi lives in Australia and is the mastermind and puppet master behind Crimespace, an online writing world for crime-fiction writers.