THE CREATIVE WRITING WORKBOOK: get the hands-on approach to the
adventure of writing from award-winning author Susanne Marie Knight. A
wonderful resource to begin your writing adventure! Updated!
Learn
by doing: plotting, characterization, point of view, dialogue, and much more.
Stretch your imagination with writing exercises and examples from Susanne’s
Romance Writing with a Twist!
THE
CREATIVE WRITING WORKBOOK is your own personal passport into the joyful world
of writing. Also including is the top-rated family-favorite short story romance
“Happy Anniversary” to use as a guide as you analyze the topics. Take advantage
of Susanne’s unique spin on the creative process.
Remember,
writing is not just a job, it’s an adventure!
Print cover of 1999, 2006 edition
A few copies of this print edition are still
available at www.susanneknight.com/orders
Praise for Susanne Marie Knight and THE CREATIVE
WRITING WORKBOOK:
A Hands-On Approach To The Adventure Of Writing
Susanne
Marie Knight has been described as a formidable talent, a rare gem, and a
talented, versatile author. For unprecedented adventure, turn the pages of THE
CREATIVE WRITING WORKBOOK to see if you agree.
--Regency Fiction World
A
wonderful reference resource for the beginning creative writer. The simple yet
effective exercises included in THE CREATIVE WRITING WORKBOOK will entice
anyone who might suffer from writer’s block.
--Norwood Book Reviews
THE
CREATIVE WRITING WORKBOOK contains advice for writers at all levels. A
must-have reference book. I’ll be referring to this again and again.
S. Girard, poet, author of Expressions... The
Journey Continues
THE CREATIVE
WRITING WORKBOOK is a writer’s best friend!
--C. Wiley, prepublished author
Susanne
Marie Knight is a talented, versatile author whose books run from this light
traditional Regency with a magical element, to time-travel, sci-fi romance,
paranormal romantic suspense, mystery, and contemporary romance.
--Romance Reviews Today
Ms.
Knight captures romance perfectly from first glance to the finish line so to
speak.
--Word On Romance
Ms.
Knight [does] a superb job of portraying truly delightful characters. Ms.
Knight promises “Romance Writing with a Twist” and she certainly delivers.
--Road To Romance
If you would like to receive two of my
dynamite pdf handouts from my appearance at Wal-Mart’s Words Are Your Wheels
(Getting Started and Four Writing Exercises To Help You Get Started), email info@susanneknight.com, subject line:
THE CREATIVE WRITING WORKBOOK Handouts, for the two pdf files. Thank you!
THE
DUPLICITOUS DIVORCE is case number Three in my popular Minx Tobin
Murder Mystery Series. For those of you not familiar with this series, click on
the link for my
Author Notes on THE BLOODSTAINED BISTRO, case number one, and my
Author Notes on THE ILL-GOTTEN INSURANCE, case number two. Breaking
news! THE BLOODSTAINED BISTRO in ebook form is now FREE at many internet sites
including Amazon.com. Click on the link
for Amazon.
Minx
is a fitness instructor newly relocated to Los Angeles, California, who has a
knack for solving puzzles--puzzles concerning dead bodies. For fun, romance,
and... unexpected corpses, follow her adventures in this murder mystery series!
Things
are heating up between our favorite fitness instructor and homicide lieutenant
in THE DUPLICITOUS DIVORCE. As the title indicates, there’s something going on
with a divorce or marriage. Some of the characters may or may not have been
legally separated. Whatever’s going on, Minx finds herself embroiled in another
dangerous case.
Artist’s rendering of a possible cover
DIVORCE... L.A. STYLE
Minx Tobin's latest client, Magda Boswell, complains that her new
husband wants her dead. But maybe it's the old husband Magda should worry
about. Or perhaps the old husband's new wife harbors murderous thoughts. Then
again, Magda's longstanding boyfriend isn't too devoted, either. Minx gets
mixed up in convoluted marital problems that just might end up in death... for
her.
Los Angeles homicide lieutenant Gabe Harris can't believe his good luck.
Not only does he win twenty thousand dollars, but more important, he persuades
Minx to take a chance on him. But when Minx gets involved in another murder
case, he finds the odds for her survival are not in her favor.
Desert Breeze Publishing has
published all six (to date) Minx Tobin novels. THE DUPLICITOUS DIVORCE has
received great reviews including 5 stars from Goodreads! All books are
available both electronically and in print.
Divorce takes a deadly turn when Minx tries her hand
at marriage counseling.
Here is a book trailer for THE DUPLICITOUS DIVORCE:
This book is part of the
Intriguing Mysteries line.
Here
are some fabulous reviews:
More
books from my stash on Kindle. The Ill-gotten Insurance and the Duplicitous
Divorce are both cozy mysteries/romances by Desert Breeze author, Susanne Marie
Knight. There is a first in this series, but I haven't had the opportunity to
read it, yet. Minx Tobin, our heroine and amateur sleuth, is a personal trainer
and aerobics instructor moved to CA from the east coast. She's not too
interested in getting into another relationship (recent break) until she meets
Lieutenant Gabe Harris (police force). And even after three books, they are
still dancing around their emotions — but getting closer. I doubt it will take
them five seasons as it did for Laura and Remmington Steele... The next in the
series, The Virtual Valentine, comes out this month. I like Minx. I like Gabe.
I'm routing for them and wondering what sort of trouble Minx will stumble upon
next.--Gloria Reviews
Minx is my favorite detective! I need my Minx
fix!!!--S. M.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Real
life tidbit: I enjoy going to Las Vegas. What a great place to unwind! Minx,
new to Los Angeles, hasn’t taken the drive over to Las Vegas until she receives
tickets to a show given to her by one of her clients.
For
my first visit, I stayed at the New York New York Hotel. I also tried the
roller coaster, just as Minx and her good friend Sadie does. All I can say
is--Wow! Below is a scene where you can experience how Minx and I felt!
The trip to the Entertainment Capital of the World took about five
hours. Sadie had insisted on driving and Minx gladly took her up on her offer.
Once they arrived in Las Vegas, Minx was even more glad. Traffic on that hugely
wide and famous Strip was absolutely insane.
By the time they reached their hotel, New York-New York, it was two o’clock.
They’d requested early check in, dropped off their suitcases, and were ready to
play tourist and see the sights.
First up was the Roller Coaster that circled the familiar skyline of New
York. Strapped into the seat with Sadie by her side, Minx coasted up high in
the air, dropped back down, then turned and twisted one hundred eighty
degrees--to make for the longest few minutes of her life.
After the ride was over, Minx walked on wobbly legs. Good thing she
hadn’t eaten lunch. Her stomach would’ve been hard pressed not to eject its
contents.
Sadie, on the other hand, took the coaster ride like a pro. “That was
fun. Wanna go again?”
“Um, no.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I hope you enjoy Minx and Gabe’s adventures. There are lots more surprises in store for them as
the series progresses. Case Number Four is THE VIRTUAL VALENTINE.
The
inside scoop on the science fiction short story, “The Convert” is that it’s
about 4,700 words or 19 pages (according to Amazon.com) The story was selling
for $1.99, and has now been reduced to $0.99.
Back
in 2002, there was a publisher’s call for short stories to be included in a
Christian Science Fiction anthology. I was intrigued with the idea of combining
Christian fiction with science fiction. While I’ve written science fiction and
also written about faith, I’d never merged the two. I really enjoyed creating
this thought-provoking story.
The
idea for "The Convert" started with the phrase "Bless me,
Father, for I have sinned." If this was to be the beginning of my story, I
then wondered why the speaker needed God's forgiveness or blessing. To give the
tale a science fiction twist, I created an unusual dilemma for the main
character, Father Wren. The question "The Convert" asks is: who is
the real convert in this story?
Although
a short story, this little science fiction gem has a long history and has
garnered lots of awards. It first appeared in a digital anthology, LEAPS OF
FAITH, where it was a Dream Realm Award Finalist in the Anthology category.
Then
“The Convert”, was also included in a print version of LEAPS OF FAITH,
published by TheWritersCafe.com, and was a finalist in the prestigious EPIC
Awards (now EPIC eBook Award) for Best Anthology.
LEAPS
OF FAITH also was voted a Top Ten Finisher in the prestigious Preditors and
Editors Readers Poll.
Here is a book
trailer for LEAPS OF FAITH, which includes “The Convert”:
What
ties all these Christian science fiction stories together in LEAPS OF FAITH
including “The Convert” is the theme of faith depicting challenging times or
ethical dilemmas.
Once
the contract expired, I offered “The Convert” by itself on Amazon.com,
Smashwords.com, and other internet sites.
When one of his congregation wants to marry an alien who is more flora than
fauna, what's a priest to do??
“The
Convert” also was voted one of the top seven stories of LEAPS OF FAITH. Here
are some wonderful reviews:
The
Convert takes an entirely different angle and addresses a person's faith versus
human prejudice and the role it might play if there is every close contact with
races who differ from us in very obvious ways. Susanne Marie Knight [short
story] is an interesting tale about an indigenous alien who wishes to marry a
human colonist to his planet. In this tale a priest must decide if he has the
right under God to marry this alien to a human. He goes through a lot of
psychological struggle, but when he hears the story from the alien, he begins
to look at the situation with his heart. Also included in this story is how
abusive we can be, simply because we don't understand, or do not seem to have
the capacity to understand things that do not fit into our little spectrum of
understanding. A wonderful story that is beautifully told.--Christian Science
Review.
FIVE
STARS! Quantum physicists, amazed by the symmetry of the universe, have said
that the more they delve into the quantum mechanics, the more convinced they
become of an existence of a higher power. Karina and Robert Fabian merge
science and faith in an anthology of fifteen Christian science fiction stories
that ignites our imaginations... In Susanne Marie Knight's 'The Convert,'
Father Wren has an equally awesome decision to make. He's the only priest on
the Ophiuchi 4 colony and must decide the marital fate of Chloe and Ping. She's
a deaf human; he's a telepathic tree.--Scribes World Reviews
Highly
Recommended! ... the stories engrossed me from the beginning. Though
SF/religious in nature (as stated by the publisher), each story managed to be
more than that. They cover the gamut of human experience--doubt, faith,
adventure, and conflict. I found the juxtaposition of futuristic story elements
and inspirational elements compelling. Each aspect blends seamlessly into a
unique collection of stories. Regardless of your faith or reading preferences,
don't miss this collection of stories from FrancisIsidore Electronic Press,
including such authors as Leslie Brown, Peter Bell, Michael S. Poteet, Susanne
Marie Knight, Greg Beatty, and many others. It poses intelligent questions and
offers honest answers. This is a book designed to make you think, and it
achieves its goal.--Dog-eared Webzine
Leaps
of Faith contains fourteen stories by twelve authors. The stories delve into
different aspects of space exploration, time travel, hard science, evangelism
in space, robot rights, and contact with extraterrestrial lifeforms. Though
much of the work deals with Christian (and often Catholic) concepts, belief and
general faith also drive many of the stories. Some of the stories are pure
adventure. Others are deep, philosophical works that struggle with science and
belief. And, still others are humorous looks at our human selves. "The
Convert" by Susanne Marie Knight and examines how far Christianity can be
extended to alien species.--Myshelf.
Leaps
of Faith will undoubtedly go down as one of the best collections of Christian
science fiction in this new century. Katrina and Robert Fabian have pooled
together some incredible talent... This book will certain entertain and
challenge the reader. If you enjoy short stories, this is for you.--Yellow30
Sci Fi
The
book was a real delight to read, and the authors wrote their stories well. It
was easy to become immersed in each tale as they followed one common theme. I
give LEAPS OF FAITH two thumbs up!--Midwest Book Review
This
is a collection of stories from authors who explore many different aspects of
science and faith, and what that all means when science makes another
discovery, or when we reach out to alien races... I found the collection over-all
thought provoking and a good read. --Author's Choice Book Reviews
I
highly recommend this book. It not only entertains, it makes you
think.--MyShelf.com
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
My
snippet from real life: I was born under the sign of Pisces, and am a self-confessed
incurable romantic. So, to me, love can conquer all. I couldn’t resist writing
a story of two people from dissimilar circumstances who overcome their
differences. In “The Convert” one of the strangest pairings I created was with
a human, Chloe, and a being who was more flora than fauna, Ping. They bridged
the gap separating them with beautiful music. And who doesn’t love beautiful
music?
Ping’s voice reflected ecstasy. He then started singing.
Breathtaking rapture inundated Father Wren’s senses, almost overloading
them. This melodious song was fairly bursting with supreme love and
beauty.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Love is an extremely powerful emotion--physically,
mentally, and spiritually. I hope you enjoy this unusual science
fiction story with Father Wren, Chloe, and Ping.
The
inside scoop on the short story (or VERY short story as some would say) is also
going to be very short. Amazon estimates the story at fourteen pages. The word
count is around 2,300 words. It’s available at Amazon.com and Smashwords, and sells
for 99 cents.
I’d
like to reduce the amount, only 99 cents is the lowest I’m allowed to go on
those sites. Originally, this story appeared at Fictionwise.com for 49 cents,
and readers were very happy with that price. But alas, Fictionwise closed its
doors. Periodically, Smashwords holds a sale, and I can set the price to free
at that time, so do check on the link every now and then. “Carla’s One-Sided
Crush” has been a popular download.
Some
time ago, one of the “hot” romance internet sites, All Romance eBooks, put out
a call to authors for short stories with a Back-To-School theme. The word count
reflected that they wanted a quick read. I answered the call with “Carla’s
One-Sided Crush”. It was quickly chosen, and even earned this comment:
“This is fabulous! It gave me goose bumps. LOL!”
The
story appeared in their newsletter, Wildfire, and sizzled there during the
month of September.
It’s
a really cute story!
Maybe Carla's schoolgirl crush hadn't been so
one-sided after all.
This
book is part of the Romantic Contemporaries line.
Basically,
we have Carla, now grown up at age twenty, running into her obsession, the
hunky Newton Philips. Newton is a biology teacher, and oh, does he use the
physical effects of attraction against Carla!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
His gaze held her, and despite all her struggles, Carla couldn’t break
the connection. “Fight or flight?” she whispered.
“The stress of attraction,” he whispered back.
She shook her head.
Newton gave a knowing smile. “Yes, even now the pupils of your eyes are
constricting, to help you focus on me.” He glanced down at her chest, and his
smile deepened. “You’re trembling and your breathing has quickened, both of
which are caused by adrenalin rushing through your body.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
You
may be wondering why I gave Carla’s crush the name of Newton. Ah, it’s a tidbit
from real life. I’d just found out my great grandfather’s first name was
Newton. I’d known him as Frank, which turns out to be his middle name. Cool,
right?
So now you’ve learned that “Carla’s One-Sided Crush”
is really short and really cute! I hope you enjoy Carla and Newton’s story.
THE
ILL-GOTTEN INSURANCE is case number two in my popular Minx Tobin Murder Mystery Series. For those
of you not familiar with this series, click on the
link for my
Author Notes on THE BLOODSTAINED BISTRO, case number one. Breaking news!
THE BLOODSTAINED BISTRO in ebook form is now FREE at many internet sites
including Amazon.com. Click on the link
for Amazon.
Minx
is a fitness instructor newly relocated to Los Angeles, California, who has a
knack for solving puzzles--puzzles concerning dead bodies. For fun, romance,
and... unexpected corpses, follow her adventures in this murder mystery series!
As
with every book in the series, the title reveals a lot about the story. You
might wonder, “How can life insurance be ill-gotten?” In this case, if the
“deceased” isn’t really deceased, then.... Well, you get the picture!
DEAD AGAIN
An odd string of coincidences leads Minx Tobin to an old friend, Bill
Gutierrez. Only Bill died five years ago. Before Minx has a chance to question
the man, he turns up dead... again, with a slip of paper in his pocket with her
name on it. Whether she likes it or not, Minx is involved in another murder.
Will the Case of the Ill-gotten Insurance turn out to be deadly for her as
well?
Los Angeles homicide lieutenant Gabe Harris regrets that the fitness
trainer who piqued his interest is a murder suspect once again. But at least he
has a legitimate reason to see Minx. Maybe he can even convince her to go out
with him. And maybe he can prevent L.A.’s newest murderer from adding Minx to
his... or her fatality list.
Desert
Breeze Publishing has published all six (to date) Minx Tobin novels and have
received great reviews including 4.5 stars from Sensual Reads and 5 stars from
Single Titles Reviews. The books are available both electronically and in print.
Minx’s dead friend turns up alive... but not for
long. Will the life insurance have to be paid twice?
Here is a popular book trailer for THE ILL-GOTTEN
INSURANCE:
This book is part of the
Intriguing Mysteries line.
Here
are some fabulous reviews:
4 Hearts! Susanne Marie
Knight pens another thriller in this series. The lives of the rich and famous
overlap with those who work for a living. Character building and dialogue are
great. The suspense as Minx confronts a killer is edge of your seat. For a
woman whose intuition and people skills in a case are superb, Minx doesn't seem
to do well communicating with Gabe. He's a macho man with a heart of gold but
doesn't let Minx see much of his better side. Gabe's friend, Sgt. Antonio
Atwell and his family are a priceless addition that really give the tale a
boost. The author does a great job blending everyday people, some of whom are a
bit creepy, with the suspects. Associates we meet at the fitness Emporium,
especially the guys, will pique the memories of those forgettable dates we had
before finding Mr. Right for many women. This is a fun series--The Romance
Studio
The
Ill-gotten Insurance, the second installment in the Minx Tobin Case books, will
not only keep you turning the pages until you reach the end of the story, it
will have you seeking out the first of Ms. Knight’s Minx Tobin Case books if
you have not already read it. The author’s fluent writing style which brings
her characters alive, warts and all. Her ability to capture the outrage of the
rich implicated in the murder along side her depiction of the hero and heroine
and their supporting cast creates plenty of friction as some of those characters
are simply ‘way-out’ weird... Ms. Knight offers characters you will want to get
to know even better, characters you are still rooting for at the conclusion of
The Ill-gotten Insurance. The story is packed with a gallery full of suspects
and enough twists and turns to satisfy any reader.--Long and Short Reviews.
I don't normally read mystery, but I'm enjoying your
book, Susanne Marie Knight. I just started it a while ago and already I'm
hooked.--J. L.
Minx and Gabe need to get together!!--C. K.
I can't wait to read these books!--T. D.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
When
I started this series, I had no idea Minx would have a background in art. She
surprised me! Many moons ago, as she says, she took drawing classes in high
school. I did as well, attending New York’s High School of Music and Art. Nor
did I know that there is actually a type of gun called the .22 short, Beretta
Minx. That certainly came in handy, and naturally the gun figures in the
mystery.
Here’s
a scene where Antonio Atwell, Gabe’s trusty sergeant, has a bit of fun with his
lieutenant.
A crime scene investigator walked over with a pencil
threaded through the trigger guard of a semiautomatic pistol. “Lieutenant
Harris, we discovered this Beretta under the flat screened TV.”
As Gabe eyed the weapon, Antonio remained strangely
quiet. Gabe darted a quick glance at his sergeant, then returned his attention
to the pistol. “Small caliber, .22, easily fits into a woman’s purse, but is
still deadly effective.”
He dismissed the investigator, then fixed his sights
on his sergeant. Someone of Antonio’s advanced age of sixty two shouldn’t be
smirking at his superior officer. “Okay, what the hell am I missing here,
Sergeant?”
“What was the manufacturer’s name for that
semiautomatic again, Lieutenant?”
“Geez it, you want me to examine the damn thing? This
a test? It was a Beretta--”
“Full name?”
Gabe frowned. The name was important? He narrowed his
gaze in the pistol’s direction. “.22 short, Beretta Minx.”
Minx! Hell’s bells, he hadn’t thought of that woman,
that fitness instructor, since, well, since last week. Truth be told, he
thought about her a lot, considering he actually hadn’t seen her in two months
from the time of the arrest in the Neal Loehman murder case.
Not that he was serious about Minx Tobin, or
anything. They’d never dated, unless that aborted Mexican dinner where she
walked out on him could’ve been called a date. Hell, she’d never even called
him by his first name.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
And
here’s another inside scoop: the widely popular 80s movie, Ghostbusters, plays
a role in the Minx Tobin Murder Mystery Series. In fact, Minx’s name is based
on a line from the movie. There’s a scene near the end where Bill Murray’s
character watches the aerobatics of the "god" Zoser, and then says
"Nimble little minx." My family just loves that line! Also, a
reference in the movie to “Tobin’s Spirit Guide” is responsible for Minx’s last
name. So there you have it! In addition, the dedication in THE ILL-GOTTEN
INSURANCE is to our beloved ghostbusters: Bill, Dan, Harry, and Ernest.
I hope you enjoy Minx and Gabe’s adventures. There are lots more surprises in store for them as
the series progresses. Case Number Three is THE DUPLICITOUS DIVORCE.
My
popular time-travel Regency romance, HAVE CHRISTMAS CARD... WILL TRAVEL first
started as a serial novel. The publisher envisioned twelve chapters total,
posting one chapter online per week for subscribers to their service. Since
twelve chapters were required, I came up with the idea of using the song: the
Twelve Days of Christmas, and then focused each chapter on a stanza of the
song. Thus, the first chapter, including the setup, dealt with a partridge in a
pear tree. The title of my book was rather bland: THE 12 DAYS OF REGENCY
CHRISTMAS.
Unfortunately,
the publisher went out of business before the first installment could be
uploaded. Fortunately, Uncial Press
picked up this novel with only a few alterations. The repetitions that occurred
at the beginning of each chapter (to refresh the reader’s memory) were no
longer needed, AND, the book needed a catchier title.
Hmmn.
What to pick? I had a difficult time with this one. Nothing seemed to fit, so I
reviewed what the plot was about: each day, a contemporary young woman,
Meredith, receives a Christmas card featuring one of the stanzas of the beloved
song. Each evening, she goes to bed in the present but during the night, wakes
up in the past in Regency England. Each morning she wakes up back in her own
bed in the present. Voilà ! The title was born: HAVE CHRISTMAS CARD...
WILL TRAVEL.
Those of you who remember vintage television
will recognize the homage to CBS’ wildly popular Western: Have Gun--Will
Travel.
HAVE CHRISTMAS CARD... WILL
TRAVEL is a wonderfully whimsical time travel story that’s perfect for the
holidays or any time of the year! This book was an EPPIE Finalist for Best
Historical Romance.
The novel has also been a
best-seller at Uncial Press and
Fictionwise.com, and has garnered two 5 STAR reviews on Barnes and Nobles!
This book is part of the
Elegant Regencies line.
Here
are some wonderful reviews!
4
½ STARS! Have Christmas Card... Will Travel by Susanne Marie Knight is a
delightful time-travel romance that carries a lonely woman back to the regency
era to find love. A creative story based on the Twelve Days of Christmas song,
I found myself looking forward to seeing how each stanza of the song would be
depicted. The characters in the story are fully developed and have very strong
personalities. This is a sweet romance in which the settings come to life
through the descriptions of the author. This is a warm-hearted story for the
Christmas Season that will leave the reader happy and feeling good in the end.
Have Christmas Card Will Travel by Susanne Marie Knight is a sweetly romantic
time travel romance to warm the hearts of the readers.--The Romance Studio
5
STARS! I loved this book! It was a cute little love story with a Christmas bow
tied around it. It was a quick read and I didn't want the story to end!--N.T.
Just
wanted you to know how I enjoyed HAVE CHRISTMAS CARD... WILL TRAVEL. The
concept of the Twelve Days of Christmas was so much fun.--G.B
I
got a misty-eyed feeling reading the last scene in HAVE CHRISTMAS CARD!--B. G.
What
an intriguing story!--J.B.
I
thoroughly enjoyed HAVE CHRISTMAS CARD... WILL TRAVEL.--J.G.
I
laughed out loud! Great story.--E.C.
Your
story was a pleasure!--S.R.
I
think this is a wonderful story!--V.B.
HAVE
CHRISTMAS CARD... WILL TRAVEL is wonderful!! It's perfect for the holidays,
too.--B.K.
Wow,
a great read!--K. J.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
For
those of you who enjoy reading about real life tidbits woven into my novels,
here’s something from HAVE CHRISTMAS CARD... WILL TRAVEL. In this novel,
although Meredith believes her Regency experiences are only dreams, she goes
along with becoming engaged to one of the Larson brothers, William. After a few
nights, she realizes she prefers his older brother, Jeffrey. Way back when, I
dated a fellow who had an identical twin. Turns out, when I met the brother, I
had more in common with him than my date!
Below
is a short passage from the Six Geese A-Laying chapter. Meredith has just
awakened in the morning.
Today, Meredith was so excited, surely she would burst. Last night
Jeffrey had kissed her. Just a brief kiss, true, but she’d felt as if her soul
was on fire. Was his taste still on her lips?
Running the tip of her tongue over her mouth, she came away disappointed.
Oh well, there was always tonight.
She closed her eyes to relive the moment, then quickly blinked them open
again. But she was engaged to William. She should’ve been daydreaming about
kissing him, not his brother!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I
hope you enjoy Meredith and Jeffrey’s story, along with the twelve drummers
drumming, eleven pipers piping, ten lords a-leaping, nine ladies dances, eight
maids a-milking, seven swans a-swimming, six geese a-laying, five gold rings,
four calling birds, three French hens, two turtle doves, and a partridge in a
pear tree!
Since I write in quite a few
different genres, I alternate between those genres so fans for that particular
genre can look forward to a new book. When I was due to write a romantic
suspense, I started thinking about this particular book. First, I had to think
of a topic. I wanted to write a paranormal about ghosts this time because many
readers love ghost stories like my popular paranormal romantic suspense GRAVE FUTURE.
Now I was ready to begin. I
like to come up with a title before I start writing. Sometimes that’s
impossible, but usually I’m able to think of one that suits the project. To
think of a title, I brainstorm, writing down whatever comes to mind. THE
WAKEFIELD DISTURBANCE just wormed its way in. I have no idea why Wakefield;
Wakefield happens to be the name of a location and also, a last name. I chose
it to be a last name. Now I had a name for one of my characters, but which one?
Setting that thought aside
for a while, I deliberated about what kind of a Disturbance could be called The
Wakefield Disturbance. I came up with the idea of the heroine having a psychic
ability that causes a shimmer around her when she receives communication from
the dead. Her last name would be Wakefield.Now I had a heroine, Lara, who can hear messages from the dead. From
there I built the story and the hero, private investigator Stuart Manning,
around Lara’s needs.That’s about it in
a nutshell!
A GIFT... OR A CURSE?
Lara Wakefield receives messages from the dead. Her latest “client” is a
murdered young girl who wants to be put to rest. The girl’s killer, however,
objects. Can Lara find the girl’s body without becoming the next victim?
MONEY OR LOVE?
Private investigator Stuart Manning wants nothing to do with
supernatural phenomena. A retainer of $50,000 overcomes his reluctance. Lara’s
innate ability, integrity, and beauty cause him to have second thoughts about
psychics, while deadly occurrences cause him to believe the little girl’s
murderer is still hanging around. How can Stuart protect Lara when the killer
is always one step ahead?
Communicating with the Dead: a gift or a curse??
THE WAKEFIELD DISTURBANCE
has been with Uncial Press since the
beginning where it has been on the best-seller list and also a #1 best-seller
at Fictionwise.com. In addition, this book is a 2008 Dream Realm Finalist for
Best Speculative Fiction Romance.
This
book is part of the Uncanny Paranormals line.
Here
are some fabulous reviews:
5 STARS!--Barnes and Noble
4 Cups! This is an
interesting suspense tale with three good main characters. The rest of the
cast... add a bit of comic relief. The plot itself is fun to read with elements
of suspense, romance, and the paranormal. The dialogue is engaging... There is
a good amount of suspense and fine love scenes also in this very enjoyable
story.--Coffee Time Romance
Fantastic! Couldn't put THE
WAKEFIELD DISTURBANCE down!--J.C.
Hauntingly good,
spine-tingling!--C.A.
I found THE WAKEFIELD
DISTURBANCE exciting and interesting--when I got home from work, I read the
last chapters instead of doing my chores!--J.G.
I enjoyed THE WAKEFIELD
DISTURBANCE!--E.C.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A Real Life Tidbit. The
locale of the murdered girl’s summer home is based on a popular resort in
Montana. This resort also has a petting zoo. Below is a photo of the llama that
was the inspiration for an important part of THE WAKEFIELD DISTURBANCE’s
mystery. In the book, you’ll find resting on the grass can be very relaxing...
or can serve another purpose!
Here’s a passage from THE
WAKEFIELD DISTURBANCE that features the llama. Scene Setup: A member of the
houseparty has just been found murdered. Lara and her young friend Chrissy take
a break from the investigation to lunch outside.
Unseasonably warm sun
beat down on Lara's shoulders. Mmmm, she couldn't help but enjoy it. Good thing
she and Chrissy had decided to leave the unhealthy atmosphere of the mansion
for awhile. Taking a picnic lunch by the petting zoo was an excellent idea.
Sitting on the grass,
Lara munched on a sandwich and watched her young friend propped against the
fence as she fed the animals. The family of ducks swam to the pond's edge to
furiously peck at the bits of food Chrissy threw to them. The three mountain
goats moseyed over to graze on animal crackers. Only the llama remained where
it was, still resting under the shade of a birch tree.
"Why won't she come
over and eat?" Chrissy grumbled. "I want to pet her."
"You're grubby from
petting the goats. Maybe the llama wants clean hands," Lara joked. Despite
the morning's horrible experience, she actually was having fun, and was glad
Chrissy was, too.
Instead of being scared
or disgusted by the news of the murder, the girl had been delighted. Her own
murder mystery to solve, she had said.
Lara shook her head.
Shades of Agatha Christie! What a gruesome reaction.
But she couldn't think
about that. It was so peaceful outside, under the wide open sky. The only
sounds she could hear were the nibbling of the ducks and the gentle breeze
rustling through the trees.
And Chrissy's complaints.
"The llama must be
hungry. She hasn't been fed yet. That's what the older lady told me--Rose, Tawnie's
mother. So why doesn't the darn beast come here?"
The llama couldn't have
been too hungry for it sat with all four legs folded under it, showing no
intention of getting up.
Chrissy stomped over to
Lara and pouted. "She looks at me but doesn't move!"
"Maybe it wants
room-service," Lara offered.
"Huh?"
"Maybe you should
climb over the fence and bring the food to the llama."
"Cool beans!"
The girl rushed to the post-and-lintel fence, then paused. "D'you think
I'm allowed to go in?"
"I don't see why
not. Just keep your hands away from the llama's mouth, okay?"
"Sure." Chrissy
hopped over the fence and slowly walked the distance to the animal. It watched
her progress, but didn't budge. Only when Chrissy placed some crackers in front
of it, did it bend its wooly neck and chew on the treat.
Another satisfied
customer!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
To find out more, read The
Wakefield Disturbance!I
hope you enjoy Lara and Stuart’s story.
Travel with author Susanne Marie Knight to some of the very unusual places she journeys to--“metaphorically” speaking!
Search This Blog
The Bloodstained Bistro
THE BLOODSTAINED BISTRO
THE BLOODSTAINED BISTRO--Case One: A Minx Tobin murder mystery romance. Eating at Valentin's Bistro can be hazardous to amateur detective Minx Tobin's health, so why does she continue to dine at this restaurant???Electronic copies of this sexy and fun murder mystery romance series is now available at Amazon.com, Smashwords.com, and other Internet locations.
Award-winning author Susanne Marie Knight specializes in Romance Writing with a Twist! She currently has sold 81 novels and short stories including the Dream Realm speculative fiction winner THE COMING and science fiction romance winner JANUS IS A TWO-HEADED GOD. She also is a seven-time EPPIE finalist and two-time Dream Realm finalist and writes in such diverse genres as Regency, paranormal, science fiction, mystery, suspense, time-travel, and contemporaries. Find out more about her works at http://www.susanneknight.com.
SUSANNE'S NOVELS
*Alien Heat
*Alien Paradise, An
*Bloodstained, Bistro, The
*Breaks An Egg
*Coming, The *Competitors! *Continental Marriage, A *Contrary Contessa, The *Creative Writing Workbook, The
*Delicate Condition, A *Duplicitous Divorce, The *Embezzled Envelope, The *Entangled *Entitled, The *Flirting Can Be Murder *ForEvver *Grave Future *Have Christmas Card... Will Travel *Ill-gotten Insurance, The *Janus Is A Two-Faced Moon *Janus Is A Two-Headed God *Karmic Connection, A *Killing Kiss, The *Love At The Top *Lucky 13 (Anthology) *Magic Token, The *My Favorite Ghost *Mystic And The Marquess *Never Trust A Billionaire *Noble Dilemma, A *Off The Grid *One That Got Away, The *One Wife Too Many *Paging Miss Galloway *Past Indiscretions
*Pushes Up Daisies *Quantum Kisses *Questing Box, The *Regency Society Revisited *Reluctant Landlord, The
*Signature Of A Queen
*Sesterce For Her Thoughts, A
*Sleeps With The Fishes *Sojourn Through Time *Stopping The Enemy *Tainted Tea For Two *Timeless Deception *Two Of Cups Is For Lovers, The *Uncovering Camelot *Unusual Masquerade, An *Virtual Valentine, The *Wakefield Disturbance, The *Wishing For A Duke *Xenon Advantage, The *Yesterday's Treasures *Yuletide Yorkshire, The
