My very first creation with MSpaint here.  Funny to see now that I am somewhat proficient in Photoshop and other creation programs. — My very first creation with MSpaint here. Funny to see now that I am somewhat proficient in Photoshop and other creation programs.

Spooky Links 2

March 10, 2016 in Spooky Links

Hello all, Aaron the Webguy filling in for Alexie as she is hard at work on the next novel. While you know I love to give you the juicy inside knowledge, I am doing my best to restrain myself this time. Since next week we plan on having a podcast about Sand Trap, the 3rd Haunted Series novel, and you know that I will be bound to spill the beans when I ramble on like I do.

In the meantime, it's time for some more Spooky Links! As always, I cannot comment on what is real or fake. You guys can judge for yourselves what seems legitimate. Some did freak me out a little bit as I was researching for the post, so I can tell you that real or not... best to sit down and relax before viewing. So, Not-Safe-For-Work rules apply, and I recommend headphones for the ones with sound. Let us dive in shall we? Mwhahahaha!

Plans ABC

March 03, 2016 in Musings

For those writers and readers who are lucky enough to have succeeded with their Plan A and have their fictional and/or reality plots all figured out, I salute you. How does it feel? I’ve lived my life satisfied with Plans B through Z - although, I did marry my Plan A crush, whoa. That in itself was a surprise, as I had already figured out I would be a happy spinster living in my cottage by the sea, surrounded by good books to read, looking forward to frightening children on Halloween. Yup, that was my Plan A.

Naming Characters

February 25, 2016 in Musings

Part of the process of bringing new or temporary characters into an existing series is to give them a name. It seems that I naturally fall into wanting to name every male Michael. There is a Father Michael in my Cin Fin-Lathen Mysteries, a Mike Dupree in the Haunted Series, and let us not forget Saint Michael. In Restitution, I include a meta moment highlighting that another Michael is being introduced; Mia, when she finds out the name of the archangel she is addressing, remarks, “It would be, wouldn’t it?” This was intended to make my editor laugh. She fights the war so I don’t reuse names and possibly confuse the reader.

I have written, in the Haunted Series alone, over 350 characters, and these are characters I have to keep listed because they play an important part in the story I’m writing. I have an Excel program to keep track of them. After each book I’m supposed to add to the list. I’m a few books behind, oy.

February Updates

February 18, 2016 in Info

Woo hoo! It’s mid-February, and I walked outside and saw my shadow! I don’t remember it being that big? Could it be that I’ve not only grown older but wider? Enough with the obvious, let me update you on the Haunted Series and The Cin Fin-Lathen Mysteries.

Me represented in a somewhat Anime style.  Headphones and Bears Beanie Cap included. — Me represented in a somewhat Anime style. Headphones and Bears Beanie Cap included.

Creative Process Musings with Aaron The WebGuy

February 11, 2016 in Guest, Aaron's Ramblings, YouTube

Hello, everyone and anyone, Aaron the Webguy here with my own post of musings on a subject close to my heart - which I will get into later. I am filling in for Alexie who is currently wrestling with the tax demons and asking me questions like, “Did you spend X amount at the computer store and label it ‘WebGuy stuff?’” and “I don’t believe The Red Pen’s wardrobe is a business expense.”

Now for my favorite topic: which is me and my adventures.

Click the picture or link here to go the Amazon Page

A Rose by Any Other Name is available!

January 31, 2016 in Book Release

We spent all day yesterday buffing up the rough edges to bring the 18th book of the Haunted Series to you as promised.

I really enjoyed writing this book. I think you’ll find a lot of your questions answered while exploring Roustan Rose, a notorious haunted house.

Caution, this is a longer book, so stock up on treats and let your loved ones know you’re reading and haven’t disappeared. True story, when I was a teen, my father called for lights out when I only had a few chapters left of the thrilling book I was reading. I didn’t want to disturb my younger sister so I waited until the house was still, before I snuck down the hall to the bathroom, rolled up a towel, and put it under the door before turning on the light. I then laid on the tile floor and finished the novel. Now with e-readers we can read in the dark. Although, it is pretty scary walking through the house and seeing a disembodied head illuminated by the iPad sitting in the living room.

Thank you, to all of you readers for the messages and encouraging comments.

Blurb and links after the jump.

Ghostly Attachments Podcast

January 28, 2016 in Podcast, YouTube, Info

Hello all, we are back with a podcast discussing the finer points of the second "Haunted Series" novel Ghostly Attachments. We of course ramble off subject a few times but I feel it was a really fun conversation. Plus as an added bonus you will find out the release date of the 18th "haunted Series" novel A Rose by Any Other Name. Hope you enjoy the podcast and stay warm this winter.

Weathering While Writing

January 21, 2016 in Ask Alexie, Musings

How much does weather play in writing a Haunted Series novel? I can answer that a good rainstorm stimulates the gray cells and adds the right amount of atmosphere in a story. Snow, too, can bring on the feeling of being trapped inside. The lowness of the winter sky pressing down on the city brings on shortened tempers and trips to the attic to sort through trunks… How about a wonderful seventy-five-degree day on the beach in Hawaii? The sun tanning the skin while the ocean breeze and icy cocktail cools you. How scary is that? I suppose if someone saw me in last year’s bathing suit, it may bring on the feeling of dread, but is it fodder for a Haunted Series book? Could Murphy passing the sunscreen to Mia interest anyone? I wouldn’t know because, this year, Hawaii is not on the menu.