#Friday Fiction… Ghost of a Chance

March 3, 2023March 1, 2023 / Jaye Marie and Anita Dawes / 5 Comments

A damaged detective, out of a job

A relationship on the rocks

What does the future hold for David Snow?

Just when he thought life couldn’t get any worse

A ghost with a grudge adds to his pain

A ghost hell-bent on stopping him from rebuilding his life…

Excerpt… Showdown…

The faint whisper of flowers greeted me when I opened the front door, but I thought nothing of it at the time. Jane’s perfume still lingered, even after her departure.

My mind was busy, wanting to check out some estate agents. I decided to make coffee before switching on my iPad. I filled the kettle and noticed somebody had moved the rubbish bin. I lifted the lid and found it empty but I didn’t recall doing it. I probably had, but my brain was nothing like reliable these days.

Back in the living room, I was about to sit down when I thought I heard a noise upstairs. It sounded like someone closing the wardrobe door.

My inner detective alarm system had been dormant for so long, and for a moment, I didn’t know what to do. Was there someone upstairs, or did I imagine it? Perhaps it was coming from next door?

Then a floorboard creaked. It was the one by the bedroom door, and I knew I had a visitor.

I made my way to the bottom of the stairs and listened. The silence was deafening, made more so by my straining to hear something. I heard nothing to suggest there was anyone up there. I made my way up the stairs, pausing on the landing. Which room should I check first?

Seconds before I made that decision, the spare room door opened. My breathing slowed as I waited to see what would happen next. It did occur to me that I should have just stormed in, the element of surprise on my side. But it turned out to be me who was surprised.

The look on my wife’s face was a picture when she walked through the door and found me standing there with my mouth hanging open.

‘What are you doing here, David?’

I thought it was not a terrific way to start, annoyance raising its head at the sheer affrontery. ‘I do still live here, you know. More to the point, what are you doing here?’

We stood on the landing, several feet apart. Neither of us was happy to see the remains of our once-beautiful relationship.

‘None of your business…’ she said, passing me on the way to the stairs.

I watched as she tried her best to stomp down the stairs with attitude, but the large suitcase she dragged behind her spoiled the effect.

I wanted to say so much, so what do you think came out of my mouth?

Mr Nasty, that’s who.

‘Before you go, Jane, leave your keys on the hall table; I am selling this place.’

She looked up at me, an unreadable expression on her face. ‘You enjoyed that, didn’t you?’

I had already regretted it, so I decided to be honest. It wouldn’t hurt, especially now. ‘No, actually, I didn’t.’

‘Then why say it? Or were you trying to hurt me?’

So, it had hurt. I had given up trying to reason with Ms Hard as Nails, convinced she couldn’t care less about anything, especially me.

‘In a way, I suppose I was trying to hurt you. A vain attempt to make you feel as bad as I do.’

Neither of us spoke. We stared at each other with a mixture of frustration and desperation (mine)

‘Get down here, David and put the kettle on. We need to talk…’

Review

Dark crime fiction with a splash of the supernatural

Although this book is a continuation in a series, the author did a good job of establishing characters and their past relationships. As a reader I felt on firm footing. The story is told from alternating POVs, all in third person, with the exception of the MC, David Snow, a former DI, who has suffered a debilitating injury that has changed his career path. We get his POV in first person.

While the story itself is gritty, the writing is polished, and the pacing strong. The writer has a deft hand with dark investigative crime. A splash of the supernatural adds an intriguing element to this hard-hitting tale that explores the bleaker side of human nature and relationships.

My huge thanks to Mae Clair for this lovely review!

Note from the author

We have decided to feature a different story each week. More to inspire us to keep writing, I think.

Ghost was supposed to be David Snow’s swansong, but I already have a new plot for him. He really hates waiting for me, but my new mystery isn’t finished yet…

Jaye

Jaye’s Week… #Review #Poetry @MaeClair1

October 8, 2022October 8, 2022 / Jaye Marie and Anita Dawes / 14 Comments

If I am honest, this week has not been much of a good one.

I found this very disappointing after such a wonderful book launch the week before.

Possibly an anticlimax, I suppose, but still disappointing.

Still no new appointment from the hospital, which has triggered so many thoughts, ( most of them bad) wondering what the future has in store. I suddenly realised that I am also my own carer, taking care of both of us. Looks like we must take care of ourselves these days, which is better than nothing I suppose.

Our medications are on automatic now, so diet and exercise are down to us, so we must do our best in that department.

The weather has allowed a little gardening this week, and it was good to be outdoors, but it didn’t lift my mood as well as it normally does. Life on the internet has been plagued all week by a Mcafee pop-up, insisting that my computer is riddled with virus and thereby doomed. Anita has not appreciated the amount of cursing that emanates from the office every time it shows up. When she asked me if there was some way to switch the bloody thing off, I had to admit I hadn’t given that a thought. I mean, where would I find such a switch?

At the bottom of the pop-up, it said via Microsoft Edge, so I went there, looking for something I could turn off. And I found it. Under notifications. I turned them off and the pesky thing vanished! Yay!

Things are looking up, I thought, wondering how long they would last.

I didn’t have long to wait.

Yesterday, I noticed a new review for Ghost of a Chance. Instantly, the miserable week faded away.

Mae Clair

4.0 out of 5 stars Dark crime fiction with a splash of the supernatural

Reviewed in the United States on 5 October 2022

Thank you so much, Mae!

Anita has just given me her latest poem, and I think it sums up the way we have both been feeling this week.

No Way Out

I am the ghost of my future
Not yet written
Each day is a dead end
Until you wake from sleeping
Walk among the living
Each step writes your own history
Good or bad, it comes by your thoughts
Dreaming puts a drop in the mix
The pink rabbit sitting on your chest
With no way to lead you to the truth
Your day ends the same way, sleeping
The days are not square or long
They are round, you keep going round 
In circles, until you write your way out…

©AnitaDawes2022

Have a great weekend folks, from both of us!

Ghost of a Chance: Book 4 of the DI Snow Series ~ Tour Stop Day Three ~ Jan Sikes and Colleen Chesebro #Bookrelease #Ghost #Mystery

September 29, 2022 / Jaye Marie and Anita Dawes / 9 Comments

Day three, and we get double the fun with two hosts for Ghost of a Chance. Jan Sikes and Colleen Chesebro, both wonderful writers, are sharing the centre stage to promote my story.

Jan Sikes

I’ve been an avid reader all my life. I can still remember the excitement that surged through me the first time I realized I could decipher words. There’s nothing I love more than losing myself in a story.

Oddly enough, I never had any ambition to be a writer. But I wound up in mid-life with a story that begged to be told. Not just any story, but a true story that rivalled any fiction creation. Through fictitious characters, the tale came to life in an intricately woven tale that encompasses four books. Not satisfied to stop with the books, I released music CDs of original music to match the time period of each story segment. In conclusion, to bring the story full circle, I published a book of poetry and art. I was done.

Wrong!

The story ideas keep coming, and I don’t intend to turn off the creative fountain.

I love all things metaphysical and often include those aspects in my stories.

I am a member of the Author’s Marketing Guild, The Writer’s League of Texas, Story Empire, and the Paranormal Writer’s Guild. I am an avid fan of Texas music and grandmother of five beautiful souls. I reside in North Texas.

Connect through Jan’s website: http://www.jansikes.com

Follow Jan on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/AuthorJanSikesBooks

Follow Jan on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/JanSikes3

Follow Jan’s Blog: http://www.jansikesblog.com

Our Review for Ghostly Interference

Rena Jett grew up inside the foster care system with her brother. I grew up in the same circumstances and identified with her every step of the way. I know how hostile and confusing her world must have been. It can confuse how you see the world, a world you never knew existed while inside a system that meant well but never felt like it did. The author has captured every confusing emotion and how they interact with a person’s life extremely well.

I especially loved Rena’s relationship with her brother, Sam. He tried so hard to be there for her and his constant caring and mysterious presence made this romantic and beautifully written story lovely to read.

Just heard that the second book in the White Rune series, Jagged Feathers is now available, and I cannot wait to read it!

Please follow Jan’s link to read more about Ghost of a Chance HERE

Colleen M. Chesebro

Colleen M. Chesebro is a Michigan Poet who loves crafting syllabic poetry, flash fiction, and creative fiction and nonfiction. Colleen sponsors a weekly poetry challenge called Tanka Tuesday, on wordcraftpoetry.com where participants learn how to write traditional and current forms of syllabic poetry.

Along with Jules Paige, Colleen is also a co-editor of “Word Weaving, a Word Craft Journal of Syllabic Verse,” at wordweavingpoetryjournal.com. The debut issue of this journal will publish in October 2021.

Colleen’s syllabic poetry has appeared in various other online publications. Recently, she created the Double Ennead, a 99-syllable poetry form for Carrot Ranch. Colleen’s poetry has poetry in various anthologies and journals including “Hedgerow-a journal of small poems,” and “Poetry Treasures,” and Poetry Treasures 2: Relationships.

Colleen published “Word Craft: Prose & Poetry, The Art of Crafting Syllabic Poetry,” which illustrates how to write various syllabic poetry forms used in her Tanka Tuesday challenges; and a collection of poetry, flash fiction, and short stories called, “Fairies, Myths & Magic: A Summer Celebration,” dedicated to the Summer Solstice. She contributed a short story called “The Changeling,” in the “Ghostly Rites Anthology 2020,” published by Plaisted Publishing House.

Find Colleen at Word Craft Poetry at wordcraftpoetry.com.

Our Review for Fairies, Myths & Magic

Prepare to be enchanted!

These enchanting poems and stories are a joy to read and would make a truly beautiful present for anyone who loves the magical world of myths and magic.
I had just finished editing my complicated mystery/thriller and wanted something to undo all the knots in my brain. I chose to read this delightful book written by Colleen Chesebro and it worked a treat!
I was transported back to a time when I saw fairies everywhere, and the years simply fell away as I remembered those golden days of my childhood.
Thank you, Colleen, for restoring the magical centre in my brain…

Please follow Colleen’s link to read a special interview with David Snow HERE

Our thanks to both of these ladies for taking part in the book tour for Ghost of a Chance!

Ghost of a Chance: Tour Stop 2: John W Howell #Bookrelease #Ghost #Mystery

September 28, 2022September 28, 2022 / Jaye Marie and Anita Dawes / 11 Comments

Day two of the book tour for Ghost of a Chance, and we are visiting John W Howell, a brilliant writer and a good friend, sharing an excerpt of my book with you all today.

Take it away, John and we will see you THERE

My favourite of John’s books is Eternal Road, The Final Stop.

James began a road trip alone in his 1956 Oldsmobile. He stops for a hitchhiker only to discover she is his childhood sweetheart, Sam, who disappeared seventeen years before. James learns from Sam that falling asleep miles back caused him to perish in a one-car accident. He also understands that Sam was taken and murdered all those years ago, and now she has come back to help him find his eternal home.

The pair visit a number of times and places and are witnesses to a number of historical events. The rules dictate that they do no harm to the time continuum. Trying to be careful, they inadvertently come to the attention of Lucifer, who would love to have their souls as his subjects. They also find a threat to human survival and desperately need to put in place the fix necessary to save mankind.

Our Review for Eternal Road.

The prologue to Eternal Road reads like any good murder mystery, followed by a quite normal beginning to chapter one, but that’s when normal left the building!
Eternal Road is a beautifully written and unique story in so many ways. A love story, an exhilarating adventure, and variations of history all rolled into one.
This story encompasses all your different emotions as it explores life and death, good versus evil, and considering the afterlife can be such a sad subject, I found no sadness in this story.
On the contrary, I found the chemistry between Sam and James heart-warming as they try to make sense of their predicament and learn how to handle it. The ending was a surprise for me, being a lifelong romantic at heart, but I understood the reasoning behind it.
And because of this, I feel there could be more from John Howell on this theme, and that’s fine by me!

All about John W Howell

John began his writing as a full-time occupation after an extensive business career. His speciality is thriller fiction novels, but John also writes poetry and short stories. His first book, My GRL, introduces the exciting adventures of the book’s central character, John J. Cannon. The second Cannon novel, His Revenge, continues the tension. The final book in the trilogy, Our Justice, launched in September 2016, concludes the thriller series. John’s fourth book, Circumstances of Childhood, launched in October of 2017, tells a different thriller story of riches to rags, football, Wall Street, brotherly love, redemption, and inspiration with a touch of paranormal to keep you riveted.

The fifth book is a collaboration with the award-winning author Gwen Plano titled The Contract. Heavenly bodies become concerned about the stability of the Earth and send two of their own to risk eternal salvation in order to save the planet. The Contract achieved number one status in its genre. John’s latest book is titled Eternal Road – The final stop and launched in September 2020. In search of their eternal home, Sam and James discover a threat to human existence. They also encounter the prince of darkness. The question is can they save humankind and their eternal souls. All books are available on Amazon in paperback and Kindle editions.

John lives in Lakeway, Texas with his wife and their spoiled rescue pets.

Thank you again for helping to launch Ghost of a Chance, John. It means a lot to me!

Ghost of a Chance: Tour Stop 1 ~ Marcia Meara ~ #Bookrelease #ghost #mystery

September 27, 2022 / Jaye Marie and Anita Dawes / 4 Comments

Today is the first day of the book tour for Ghost of a Chance, the fourth book in the DI Snow series.

Marcia Meara is kicking off the tour with #GuestDayTuesday, featuring yours truly and my latest story.

Follow the LINK to join us there

Marcia lives in central Florida, just north of Orlando, with her husband of over thirty years and four big cats.

When not writing or blogging, she spends her time gardening and enjoying the surprising amount of wildlife that manages to make a home in her suburban yard. She enjoys nature. Really, really enjoys it. All of it! Well, almost all of it, anyway. From birds to furry critters to her very favourites, snakes. The exception would be spiders, which she truly loathes, convinced that anything with eight hairy legs is surely up to no good. She does not, however, kill spiders anymore since she knows they have their place in the world. Besides, her husband now handles her Arachnid Catch and Release Program, and she’s good with that.

Spiders aside, the one thing Marcia would like to tell each of her readers is that it’s never too late to make your dreams come true. If, at the age of 69, she could write and publish a book (and thus fulfil 64 years of longing to do that very thing), you can make your dreams a reality, too. Go for it! What have you got to lose?

CONTACT MARCIA HERE:

The Write Stuff: http://marciamearawrites.com/

Twitter: @marciameara

Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/marciameara/

BIBLIOGRAPHY OF MARCIA’S BOOKS:

Wake-Robin Ridge

A Boy Named Rabbit: Wake-Robin Ridge Book 2

Harbinger: Wake-Robin Ridge Book 3

The Light: Wake-Robin Ridge Book 4

Swamp Ghosts: A Riverbend Novel

Finding Hunter: Riverbend Book 2

That Darkest Place: Riverbend Book 3

The Emissary: A Riverbend Spinoff Novella

The Emissary 2: To Love Somebody

The Emissary 3: Love Hurts

The Emissary Trilogy: A Riverbend Spinoff Collection

Summer Magic: Poems of Life & Love

Our review of our favourite book from Marcia Meara, The Light, from the Wake-robin Ridge series

A brand new story for lovers of Wake Robin Ridge and Rabbit!

I had been looking forward to reading Marcia Meara’s latest Wake Robin Ridge story, as I am a devoted fan of the adopted, delightful eleven-year-old star of the previous book, Rabbit.

This story is all about the mysterious Brown Mountain Lights, a very real phenomenon, something that has puzzled people for years and had Rabbit entranced. I wondered if he would end up discovering something connected to his own special gift, his ability to ‘read’ people and sometimes see the future.

Along the way, he becomes involved in a murder mystery, turning what I thought would be a light-hearted story into something more complicated.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading The Light. The quality of the writing, the wonderful cast of characters and the sublimely complicated plot left me in awe of the author’s talent.

Jaye’s Week ~ #Progress

September 21, 2022 / Jaye Marie and Anita Dawes / 15 Comments

It is getting harder than ever to come up with posts that are not filled with even a little doom and gloom, mainly because I am trying so hard to avoid thinking about the future.

I should be bouncing around like a two-year-old at a birthday party, full of the joy of the approaching release of my latest masterpiece.

The excitement is there, somewhere, as I get moments when I forget everything else and become a writer and nothing else matters.

Book Four in the series, but can be read as a stand alone

The pre-release is going well, HERE IN UK and IN US with interest on amazon itself and also my own marketing efforts on social media and Bookfunnel HERE.

Many, many thanks to everyone who has taken part!

I almost have everything ready for next week’s launch, and I’m busy working on a trailer and the paperback edition.

It crossed my mind that I should be promoting the previous book in the series, CrossFire, so I have reduced the price in case anyone is interested in finding out what happened before and how my favourite detective, David Snow, ended up the way he did.

Blurb for CrossFire

A mysterious thriller about an unusual serial killer, from the author of Nine Lives and Out of Time…

Detective Snow has another killer to catch.

A killer as mysterious as the crimes he commits.

Someone has killed his sergeant and now seems to be coming after him.

He is hampered by the arrival of ‘Ruthless’ DI Ruth Winton,

Someone who is not who she seems to be.

Can he outwit this killer, or will the truth cost him his life?

Jaye’s Week…

September 16, 2022September 17, 2022 / Jaye Marie and Anita Dawes / 10 Comments

This has been a very strange week.

Along with trying to organise the book launch for Ghost of a Chance and sending out the promo material for all those lovely people taking part; I have been battling with not feeling great. Coping with the new meds they have given me to help dissolve the blockage in my right coronary artery has not been a walk in the park.

My body doesn’t care for medications of any kind, never has, but I did hope this time might be different, considering what might happen if they don’t work. The thought of possibly having my ribs cracked and being opened like a filleted fish is scaring me silly.

I have endured a lot in my life, but something tells me this might be a bridge too far.

So, regardless of my fuzzy head, muscle cramps and nausea, I am determined to handle this problem my way. I have reviewed my diet and upped the amount of time I do yoga. At least I feel a little better with all these positive thoughts and actions!

This brings me to the reason for this post today.

Ghost of a Chance is now on pre-release on Amazon for just 99p. UK: and US:

A damaged detective, out of a job
A relationship on the rocks
What does the future hold for David Snow?
Just when he thought life couldn’t get any worse
A ghost with a grudge adds to his pain
A ghost hell-bent on stopping him from rebuilding his life…

Excerpt from Ghost of a Chance

It was pretty late when Alan Turner let himself in. He couldn’t hear the television, so he assumed making himself a cup of coffee was safe. Normally, he wasn’t allowed in her kitchen and forbidden to use the kettle, but he had been sitting outside in the car for the best part of an hour, and his mouth was dry.

The kettle had just switched itself off, and he was pouring the hot water into the cup when the voice of doom spoke from the doorway.

‘What the bloody hell are you doing in my kitchen?’

He didn’t answer or turn around. He figured she could see well enough what he was doing. It wouldn’t matter anyway, for she never liked anything he said. He casually picked up the cup and took a sip, even though it burned his mouth.

Before he knew what hit him, she had knocked the cup out of his hand, the hot coffee soaking through his clothes.

‘Clear that mess up and get out of my kitchen!’ She stood in front of him glaring, almost defying him to retaliate.

When he didn’t move, she raised her hand to hit him. Instinctively, he leaned forward and shoved her. He didn’t push hard, but she went backwards, striking her head on the door frame.

He expected all hell to break loose at that point, but she lay there, her eyes unfocused, making no effort to get up.

An old memory suddenly surfaced, and he saw his mother lying there, blood trickling out of her mouth and eyes, beaten to death by his stepfather. He was just seven years old and terrified of what would happen next. A neighbour had rescued him and called the police. Alan had spent the next few years in children’s homes, finally becoming free on his 16th birthday. His life continued to be unkind until he met his wife.

Looking down at the sprawled figure at his feet, he couldn’t bring himself to touch her to see if she was all right. If she wasn’t dead, he would know about it soon enough. He couldn’t stay in the house; fate had finally intervened, showing him the error of his misplaced loyalty. He left the house to sleep in his car, determined to find somewhere better to live in the morning.

In the guise of his mother-in-law, fate had decided he wouldn’t be leaving just yet. The following morning, desperate to use the toilet, he let himself into the house, praying she was asleep or still unconscious. Not only was she conscious, but she was smiling, and there was a cooked breakfast on the kitchen table, something she had never done before. Deciding to accept what appeared to be an olive branch, he waited to see what she was up to.

Over the bacon and eggs, she threatened to have him arrested for assault if he tried to leave. Not fooled for a minute by this new development, he wondered what game she was playing now. The obvious conclusion was that she didn’t want his torment or money to stop anytime soon.

It was a very subdued but disappointed man who went to work that day…

I know you are all busy and time is short, but if you could buy a copy; UK and the US and leave a few words on launch day, September 27^th on Amazon, or Goodreads, you would make this old lady very happy.

Ghost of a Chance might be my last book (although I really hope not!), and I would love it to do well, just in case…

*** ARC copies are available on request in the comments ***

Just 15 Days to Go!

September 12, 2022 / Jaye Marie and Anita Dawes / 17 Comments

It has been a while since we ran a book tour, and since diving into the one for Ghost of a Chance, I am constantly surprised by how complicated it is.

I repeatedly wish I had started much earlier, as time is passing at an alarming speed, and I never seem to get everything necessary done.

It would help if I didn’t keep wanting to improve what I thought was already in the bag. Like yesterday, I decided that the assigned blurb for Ghost of a Chance simply wasn’t good enough.

Then I discovered the book file was the wrong font size. Yesterday was also Sunday, a family dinner day, so I was very busy trying to wear several different hats simultaneously. Something that used to be fun, but lately, not so much.

To round off my Sunday nicely, I then looked at my personal bio! (shock horror!)

I am fast becoming a one-job-at-a-time person…

Breaking News ~ Ghost of a Chance #MysteryThriller ~ #Release Date

August 17, 2022 / Jaye Marie and Anita Dawes / 14 Comments

The worst heat has gone, and we had rain this morning. We are not overly impressed, though; they must have been dishing it out with a teaspoon! Other parts of the country are having bucket loads. Sigh…

No thunderstorms either, so we are reduced to watching what others are getting on the TV. We mustn’t complain, as getting rid of all that suppressed heat was the best gift. We actually managed to get a good night’s sleep without being soaked in sweat!

Book Description

Detective Snow sustained severe damage to his left shoulder on his last case. Forced to retire, his wife is leaving him, and there is not much hope for his future.

He considers being a private investigator something he feels he should be good at, even with a damaged arm.

His first case opens the door to some strange paranormal goings on.

He doesn’t believe in ghosts, but will this case change his mind?

I still have some editing to finish on Ghost of a Chance, but I think it is time I talked about a release date. Technically, it should be two months from now, but I don’t want to publish in October for some reason.

It will have to be as near the end of September as possible.

How about September 27?

I usually ask for beta readers, but every time I look around these days, something changes so I thought I would too.

I would love for readers to offer their help with the promotion and send me their bio and latest book news, so they can really be a part of the book launch. All promo material will be supplied.

Please leave your name in the comments if you want to participate!

Friday Follow Up…

July 15, 2022 / Jaye Marie and Anita Dawes / 14 Comments

There’s not much to follow up on this week, as it hasn’t been much of a week, to be honest.

Even with the increasing heat, we have tried to carry on as normal, but…

There’s always at least one but, isn’t there?

The biggest annoyance this week has been the way the internet is behaving lately. I blame the internet, for the want of something concrete to aim my wrath at, but in all fairness, I’m not sure what is happening, or who is doing it.

I seem to run into problems no matter what I try to do, these days. Quite reduces my joy in blogging, to be honest.

I have always enjoyed reading posts, making a point to share my thoughts, and liking and commenting where necessary. These days most of the like buttons I press don’t work and any comments I make are not accepted, so the poor recipient cannot appreciate my visit. Needless to say, this is most annoying.

Anyway, enough of the moaning.

Work is going well with the WIP, Ghost of a Chance. The end is in sight, just visible behind a mountain of loose ends.