The Re-Buzz on THE WAKEFIELD DISTURBANCE

Re-Released! New Cover!

Here’s the scoop on my popular paranormal romantic suspense, THE WAKEFIELD DISTURBANCE, now released!

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?

THE WAKEFIELD DISTURBANCE was published by Uncial Press and had been with them for many years. Here is the original cover.

Communicating with the Dead: a gift or a curse??

THE WAKEFIELD DISTURBANCE 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.

The book video trailer has received a “Spine-tingling!” recommendation from The SavvyClick.com. Here is the book trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0tTLQySlNAk

Music is by Kevin MacLeod, Jackhammer.

I recently decided to have the rights returned to me for all my Uncial Press books--a total of five novels and three short stories. THE WAKEFIELD DISTURBANCE is the fifth to be re-released. It’s now available on Amazon.com and Smashwords.com!

Here’s the new cover:

Psychic Lara Wakefield is tasked by a murdered young girl to find her killer.

Amazon.com and Smashwords.com.

This book is part of the Uncanny Paranormals line.

Here are some fabulous reviews:

* 5 STARS!--Barnes and Noble

* 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!--Reader Comment

* Hauntingly good, spine-tingling!--Reader Comment

* I found THE WAKEFIELD DISTURBANCE exciting and interesting--when I got home from work, I read the last chapters instead of doing my chores!--Reader Comment.

* I enjoyed THE WAKEFIELD DISTURBANCE!--Reader Comment

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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. Mmm, she couldn’t help but enjoy it. Good thing she and Chrissy had decided to leave the unhealthy atmosphere of the mansion for a while. 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 up 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 also 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.”

“Your hands are grubby from the goats. Maybe that’s why.” Lara couldn’t help joking. 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 from 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 this darn beast come here?”

The llama couldn’t have been too hungry for the animal sat with all four legs folded under it, with 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!

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To find out more, read The Wakefield Disturbance! I hope you enjoy Lara and Stuart’s story.

Happy reading,

Susanne Marie Knight

www.susanneknight.com

Read outside the box: award-winning Romance Writing With A Twist!

Re-Release! A Very Special Christmas Present

The Re-Buzz on “A Very Special Christmas Present”

Re-Released! New Cover!

Great news! My “Family Favorite” Regency short story has now been re-released!

Regency romances are always popular with readers. Perhaps it’s because they recall an elegant era or perhaps it’s the appeal of noblemen and their ladies. Whatever the attraction, I’m heartily glad for it! “A Very Special Christmas Present” began as a submission to a new Regency publishing house. The publisher was conducting a contest for short stories to include in the new print and electronic anthology, THE WINTER HOLIDAY SAMPLER. The contest rules were simple: set the story around a winter holiday: the parameters between Advent and Twelfth Night. Naturally I chose Christmas!

Happily, my story was one of the seventeen winners. “A Very Special Christmas Present” earned fantastic reviews.

Seventeen Wonderful Stories Of Regency England

As it happens so often, the publisher had to close its doors and the anthology is no longer available. With the rights to “A Very Special Christmas Present” returned to me.

Some time passed, and then I received a call from publisher Uncial Press to submit a short story. I sent in “A Very Special Christmas Present”. It had been part of their inventory for many years. inventory. Below is the original cover: 

Deidre's only brother was killed in the Napoleonic Wars, so romance is the furthest thing from her mind. However her young "niece"--Cupid's curly-haired accomplice--is determined to give Auntie Dee the best Christmas present ever.

I recently decided to have the rights returned to me for all my Uncial Press books--a total of five novels and three short stories. “A Very Special Christmas Present” is the fourth to be re-released. It’s now available on Amazon.com and Smashwords.com!

Here’s the new cover:

Deidre’s young “niece” is determined to give her Auntie Dee the best Christmas present ever: a husband!

Amazon.com and Smashwords.com

This book is part of the Elegant Regencies line.

Some very special reviews for “A Very Special Christmas Present”:

* FIVE STARS! Fans of the stories set in early nineteenth century England will find this a comfortably familiar world. The setting is completely perfect, from the wonderful home and dedication to needlework, to the holiday plans, and even the focus on marriage. You will enjoy Knight’s clever twist with descriptions--her snow-capped fir trees “huddle” from the cold, and main character Deidre expresses frustration by ‘savagely’ embroidering. Throughout, the phrasing is subtle but delightful. It’s hard to say more without spoiling this one. Full of Christmas charm, Susanne Marie Knight’s A Very Special Christmas Present, would make a very nice present for some lucky romance fan on your shopping list...I will certainly re-read.--Long & Short Reviews.

* This is a most refreshing story. Sometimes we judge too quickly before learning the real truth.--Romance At Heart.

* I didn't want this story to end! More, more, more!--Reader Comment

* This is the best Regency short story I've read.-- Reader Comment

Real life tidbit: Just as our heroine, Deidre Livingston, I dabble in embroidery. Or rather, I used to dabble in embroidery. I enjoyed buying handkerchiefs and then using one as a canvas, embroider a friend or family member’s name to give as a gift. Deidre has far more talent than I ever had!

Scene setup: At a Christmas party, Jeremy Stafford, the Earl of Bainbridge, encounters the intriguing Miss Livingston who rescues him from the consequences of an unplanned sneeze!

Jeremy picked up two glasses of the mulled cider and handed one to Miss Livingston. The pungent aroma of spices such as cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves, tickled his nose even before he drank.

He sneezed. “I beg your pardon.” Reaching for his handkerchief, he came up empty.

Miss Livingston must have realized his dilemma for she searched in her reticule and pulled out a delicate, embroidered cloth. “Please, take mine,” she offered.

Accepting the handkerchief, he marveled at the satin-stitch design and the feminine name of Deirdre stitched upon it. “My thanks, Miss Livingston. I gave mine to that imp of a child. Is this your fine needlework?”

She looked down at the parquet wood floor. Modesty became her. “Yes. I had the pleasure of giving handkerchiefs as Christmas gifts to all Lady Fairmont’s guests.” Her gaze everywhere but on him, she added, “Would you like for me to make one for you, also?”

His response came straight from the heart. “Indeed, if I may, I wish to keep this one. Your name is quite lovely.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I hope you enjoy Deidre and Jeremy’s Christmas story.

Happy reading,

Susanne Marie Knight

www.susanneknight.com

Read outside the box: award-winning Romance Writing With A Twist!

The Re-Buzz on ONE WIFE TOO MANY

Re-Released! New Cover!

I’m happy to announce that my popular second-chance-at-love contemporary romance, ONE WIFE TOO MANY, has now been re-released! Sometimes LOVE does find us, but at that particular time, we’re not ready for it. That’s what happens to Wilson Struthers.

Here’s the blurb:

Wilson Struthers is an ambitious attorney who advances his career by marrying eighteen-year-old Andrea, the boss’ daughter. Things go according to plan... until Andrea is lost at sea. Seven years later, Wilson marries again. Then the fun begins!

Now the dilemma: How do I craft this tale so that when Wilson and Andrea meet seven years later, they don’t recognize each other? How can I make this story believable?

Ah, that’s the rub! For Andrea, she suffers from total amnesia of her former life and becomes Anakalia Lawai’a, and for Wilson, well, let’s just say twenty-five-year-old Andrea looks very different from his virgin bride.

ONE WIFE TOO MANY was published by Uncial Press and had been with them for many years. Here is the original cover.

I recently decided to have the rights returned to me for all my Uncial Press books--a total of five novels and three short stories. ONE WIFE TOO MANY is the third to be re-released. It’s now available on Amazon.com and Smashwords.com!

Here’s the new cover:

Seven years after his bride is lost at sea, Wilson marries again. Bigamist!

Amazon.com and Smashwords.com

This book is part of the Romantic Contemporaries line.

ONE WIFE TOO MANY earned Best-Seller status at Fictionwise.com and is a Favorite in libraries across the United States including North Texas Libraries On The Go.

Here are some fabulous reviews:

5 STARS! Some books are meant to be classics. ONE WIFE TOO MANY is in this category. We are introduced to the main characters, Andrea and Wilson, as they just get married. Both of them are making a major mistake. Wilson, to get promoted, and Andrea, to escape her unloving father. But on the Hawaiian honeymoon night, Andrea’s eyes get cruelly opened, and she makes another bad choice, only to get swept overboard in a storm-tossed sea. Her body is never recovered. Seven years pass. Wilson is a sadder man, filled with regret, but feels it’s time to move on. He remarries. Then the unthinkable happens: his job sends him back to Hawaii where... ONE WIFE TOO MANY is a perfect second chance at love story. I thoroughly enjoyed reading how they met each other again with no recognition, and yet there was something achingly familiar that they just couldn’t identify. A wonderful treat for anyone who’s a romantic at heart!--Norwood Reviews

5 STARS! Amazing Book! After reading The Reluctant Landlord, which I was very impressed with, I decided to read another one of Susanne's books, One Wife Too Many. She did not disappoint me with this book either. Both books I thought were terrific. I would recommend both books to anyone and now I'm going to go onto one of her other books. I'm picking one of her short stories The Teachers Pet. I'm sure I will not be disappointed with that either. One Wife Too Many I read in one day as I could not put it down!--R.R. Amazon.co.uk

Susanne Marie Knight's books are always fun, sexy and tender. Her latest, ONE WIFE TOO MANY is all of the above, a real feel-good story. Andrea is young and innocent when she marries Wilson, who is an ambitious lawyer in her father's firm. Before the wedding night, she's lost at sea. He remarries, she survives and their lives get really complicated.--UP Reviews

This is a wonderful (as usual) love story. You’re soo good, Sus. Thanks so much!-- Reader Comment

 Susanne’s plot pacing is, as always, superb!--Reader Comment

Brilliantly written--Book Review

This book is great! I adore Andrea, and as for Wilson--yum! Thanks so much for this refreshing read!-- eader Comment

Whenever I want to take a Hawaiian vacation, I reread ONE WIFE TOO MANY. I love this story!-- Reader Comment

An excellent retelling at a second chance a love story!-- Reader Comment

Here is a popular book trailer for ONE WIFE TWO MANY, for the Uncial Press version.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K6axHmA8xwc

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Below are a couple of tidbits from my life that helped me write this novel. The islands of Hawaii play a large role in ONE WIFE TOO MANY. During a terrifying storm, Andrea is swept overboard from the deck of a company yacht in the channel of waters between Molokai and Maui. I also was violently tossed about in a small yacht navigating very rough seas. Fortunately, I remained onboard!

Here’s how Wilson (Will) experienced the storm:

Still holding his drink, Will carefully maneuvered past annoyingly loud slot machines and equally annoying drunken passengers until he walked out the casino doors.

Once in the carpeted corridor, he stood a moment to get his bearings. Wrong move. A giant wave crashed against the starboard side of the ship. Will lost his balance... and his drink, and smashed into the wall.

While his crystal tumbler harmlessly bounced on the carpeted floor, the glassware inside the casino wasn’t as lucky. The tinkling of breaking glass was loud enough to be heard out in the corridor. Evidently everything that wasn’t nailed down on the bar counter had slid to the other end, then landed down onto the floor.

What a waste of booze!

Will grinned, righted himself and took a step. Another wave  crashed into the ship, knocking him full force him back into the wall.

Damn. The shit just got kicked out of him. If Andrea had been seasick before, there was no telling just how badly she was feeling right now. Urgency fueled his movements.

Here’s how Andrea experienced the storm:

Although unsteady footing was a problem, she managed to get to the stairway and headed up one level for the casino deck.

The yacht personnel were prepared for this type of weather. Little white bags had been placed on each step by the wall... just in case.

Thank goodness she didn’t need to use one. Her stomach was behaving nicely. And actually, she had to admit, it was fun to be thrown from one side of the carpeted wall to the other.

Andrea grinned. Maybe now that she was a married woman, she could handle things better than before.

After Andrea washes up in the city of Hilo on the big island of Hawaii, she is welcomed into the bosom of a traditional Hawaiian family, the Lawai’as. Since she has no memory of her previous life, she takes the name Anakalia, which means Andrea in Hawaiian. Seven years later, she reluctantly gives a stranger, Will, a tour of Hilo, including the famous Akaka Falls. Here’s a picture I took of Akaka Falls while on vacation there.

Here’s how Akaka Falls fits into the story:

Today was about as perfect as a day could be. Will thoroughly enjoyed pineapple pancakes for breakfast--an exotic treat for the palate--the tropical rainforest surrounding Akaka Falls, and the company.

Especially the company. Anakalia Lawai’a combined sultry beauty with a naiveté that stoked his growing desire.

Walking behind her in the dense jungle and watching her bewitching bottom sway as they’d traveled on a narrow path to the falls was nearly his undoing.

Or perhaps it was the primordial surroundings. Any minute he’d expected Tarzan to swing through the trees with his characteristic yell.

No, his overactive libido was all due to her.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

So now you know part of what happens when Wilson finds out he has ONE WIFE TOO MANY! I hope you enjoy Andrea and Wilson’s book.

Happy reading,

Susanne Marie Knight

www.susanneknight.com

Read outside the box: award-winning Romance Writing With A Twist!  

The Buzz On Short Story “Homesick”

Re-Released! New Cover!

 I’m happy to announce that my popular science fiction short story romance, “Homesick” has now been re-released! “Homesick” is one those tales that sneak up on you and tug on your heart. There are two very personal connections to this story for me; I’ll get into them in a bit. For now, let’s discuss the inside scoop on “Homesick”.

I wrote “Homesick” because at the time, I actually was, in fact, homesick. More on that later. Once the story was completed, I submitted it to a print publisher of anthologies. “Homesick” was gladly accepted and scheduled to be included in their newest anthology. The only item they wanted changed was the title. So instead of “Homesick”, the story was to be known as “Home Of The Heart.”

Alas, the publisher had to close its doors before the anthology was released. If you’ve been reading my Author Notes blogs, you’ll know this happens A LOT.

So the first thing I did was change the title back to “Homesick”. Next, I looked for a new home for the story. I eventually used it to promote my contemporary romance novel LOVE AT THE TOP released by a now defunct publisher. Here is the beautiful cover:

“Homesick” was voted a Top Ten Finisher Best Science Fiction Short Story in the prestigious Preditors and Editors Readers Poll.

“Homesick” was then published by Uncial Press and had been with them for many years. Here is the original cover.

“Homesick” was very happily received, and given a rating of 1 1/2 hankies out of 2 hankies -- “Unusual for a short story, because it's hard to build that kind of emotion in short stuff. You do it well.”

Here’s the blurb: “Susanne Marie Knight always tells a good tale, whether long or short. Homesick is one of her shorts, but it packs a lot into its almost 6,000 words. Jayna is not a scientist; she's an artist. The only reason she's part of the Mars expedition is because her husband is one of the scientists vital to the team. Lacking the all-consuming passion of satisfying research, she is at loose ends and dreadfully homesick for the soft breezes and gentle green fields of Earth. Mars is harsh, red, and cold. She can't even breathe without a mask. As she paints the stark landscape, she gradually sees its beauty. And then something so incredible, so impossible happens, and she has to adapt to Mars...or die.”

I recently decided to have the rights returned to me for all my Uncial Press books--a total of five novels and three short stories. “Homesick” is the second to be re-released. It’s now available on Amazon.com and Smashwords.com!

New Cover!

Just what is Jayna homesick for?

Amazon.com and Smashwords.com

This book is part of the Fascinating Sci-Fi line.

Here are some wonderful comments:

Homesick is a science fiction that will make you wonder.--Romance at Heart.

Such a beautiful story! Was not prepared for the story or the ending!!!! Wonderfully written!--Reader Comment

I really liked this story. I would definitely like to read more of Susanne’s work.--Reader Comment

Fantastic! Beautifully written! I love the descriptions!--Reader Comment

Now for the connections to real life as I mentioned in the beginning of this blog. Way back when, my husband was stationed on Okinawa, a beautiful island half a world away from where I was from. And yes, at first I was homesick. Looking up at the night sky, I couldn’t get over how strange it was to see different stars, different constellations. This thought led me to the idea on what it would be like looking up at the night sky on a different planet, for example, Mars. The following passage is the beginning of “Homesick” where Jayna describes her reaction to her new home. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Jayna stared out at the vast expanse of desert undulating before her. The shifting sands roughly lapped at her booted feet. As she watched, arid winds increased in tempo, whirling the gritty particles into a frenzy. Soon a sandstorm would obscure her vision and she’d have to return to the compound.

Not that she minded. Staying inside the manmade tomb carved into a mountain higher than Mount Everest irritated her, but being outside was infinitely worse. At least inside, ordinary, everyday objects surrounded her. Outside, only the monotonous, pale sand seemed familiar. But instead of reminding her of the home she’d left behind, the sand’s color made her blood boil. She’d expected the stuff to be blood-red.

God, how she hated this place. Even the name of the desert was apt: Hellas. Hell. How true.

Inhaling a deep breath of the purified oxygen-nitrogen mixture from the tank strapped to her shoulders, she took one last look at the velvet skies pierced by intense, untwinkling points of light. Two tiny moons hung low on the horizon. Two. If she lived to be one hundred, she’d never get used to that unnatural sight.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The second connection shows how Jayna has adapted to this new home, and also has new life growing inside her. Her miracle baby, she calls her unborn child. I, too, called my daughter my miracle baby. Below shows how Jayna feels about her new circumstances.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Sitting cross-legged at the base of the Hellas mountain she now called home, Jayna took a break from her painting and gazed out at the desolate beauty surrounding her. The shrunken sun had warmed the thin Martian atmosphere to forty degrees Fahrenheit, a veritable heat wave. High overhead, the two moons, small Phobos and tiny Deimos, shone down on her, keeping her company. Soon the larger one, Phobos, would complete its circuit across the sky and vanish for a few hours. How strange that the moons appeared to move in opposite directions. But Phobos would be back. She and Deimos could count on that.

Funny how two moons instead of one now seemed so natural and right. She smiled. Yes, a lot had changed in two months.

Her half-finished canvas propped up in front of her, she picked up an oil tube of ultramarine blue and squeezed some next to the viridian green on her palette. Springtime on Mars was beautiful, a cause for celebration. The nearby Mare Serpentis, once believed to be an ocean, was instead awash with hardy desert plants: mosses and lichens to decorate the Spartan landscape. New life, new growth abounded, just as it did within her.

She patted her generous tummy. Who would’ve guessed she had something in common with this forbidding planet? As the seed within her took hold, so did the tenacious desert plants. Each new life struggled against the odds to survive hostile conditions. Mother Nature’s miracle. Her miracle.

When she lifted a brush to the canvas, a gentle fluttering in her stomach stayed her hand. “You’re letting your presence be known, aren’t you, little one?”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I hope you enjoy Jayna’s wondrous story.

Happy reading,

Susanne Marie Knight

www.susanneknight.com

Read outside the box: award-winning Romance Writing With A Twist!

The Buzz on Short Story “Family Secrets”

Re-Released! New Cover!

I’m happy to announce that my popular short story romance, “Family Secrets” has now been re-released! I wrote this popular paranormal (or is it a paranormal?!) when I received a call from my publisher to submit a short story. The genre was open; the storyline was up to me. I decided on a contemporary romance with a touch of magic... just like the touch of magic that I included in my Regency romance, THE MAGIC TOKEN, that will also soon be re-released. I liked the idea of a tie-in to this Regency... not that there is a magic token, but that a love ritual was performed on Midsummer’s Eve back in 1802, and now, in contemporary times with Talia Fanetti. More on this below in my connections to real life section!

Here’s the blurb:

Talia Fanetti longs for true love. She’s just gotten engaged to eligible bachelor Edmund Bartholomew, so she’s all set in the love department.

Or is she?

On a romantic getaway in the country, she learns her future in-laws live in a house awash with secrets. Talia soon makes a startling discovery: she has a secret as well. When Grandmother Bartholomew offers Talia a chance to find out who her true love is, will Talia have the courage to use the magic spell?

I also loved the idea that every character had something hidden from the others. After all, what family doesn’t have secrets? It was fun considering each and every person and then deciding what the mysterious secret would be.

“Family Secrets” was published by Uncial Press and had been with them for many years. Here is the original cover.

I recently decided to have the rights returned to me for all my Uncial Press books--a total of five novels and three short stories. “Family Secrets” is the first to be re-released. It’s now available on Amazon.com and Smashwords.com!

Here are some fabulous reviews:

“Family Secrets”--The characters were intriguing... If you want a quick, sweet romantic read with a touch of magic, you will enjoy this story.--Got Romance Reviews.

A quick read but I enjoyed it. Good characters.--Reader Review

“Family Secrets” is a little gem.--UP Review

This book is part of the Uncanny Paranormals and Contemporary lines.

Real-Life Tidbit: Back in Junior High (or Middle School as it would now be called) a very good friend knew of my interest in paranormal subjects so she gave me a little fortune telling book. This book also contained a few charms and ceremonies. In “Family Secrets” I based Granny’s book, THE SAGE SEER, on my friend’s gift--THE LADIES’ ORACLE--which was supposedly first publishing in the sixteenth century. I slightly altered the Midsummer’s Eve ritual for both “Family Secrets” and THE MAGIC TOKEN but the end result was the same: to see one’s future husband.

Here’s a snippet from “Family Secrets”:

Talia sat near the edge of the stream, close enough to peer into the dark water. The moon seemed to shine a beacon right where she needed it. She could see her pale image within the water below.

If this secret ritual was successful, her image would be replaced by her true love's reflection.

Her heart beat faster. Would the magic work?

Only one way to find out. She adjusted her shawl around her shoulders, then got to work. Putting down her supplies, she dug a hole in the dirt just large enough to make sure the candle would remain upright.

She looked at her watch. It was time.

Swiftly striking the match, she smiled as the flame blazed into life. Then she lit the candle. Next, she picked up the apple in one hand and the rose in the other. With the rose, she made clockwise circles around the apple. She did that as instructed--seven times.

By the time she'd finished, her hand shook. She set down the rose and picked up the candle. Bathed in the flicker of its light, she took a bite out of the apple. One bite was all that was needed.

Now for the moment of truth. Tensing up and holding her breath, she leaned over the riverbank to gaze into the water below.

Her large dark eyes blinked back at her. Her hair, mussed by the wind, looked as wild as a lion's mane against the white of her nightshirt.

She released her pent-up breath. Unless she was her own true love, no other image reflected back at her.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I hope you enjoy Talia’s true love story.

Happy reading,

Susanne Marie Knight

www.susanneknight.com

Read outside the box: award-winning Romance Writing With A Twist!

New Year’s Resolutions and an Ancient Roman God

January is the month of Janus, the two-headed god of ancient Romans in charge of new beginnings. His two faces gazed in opposite directions so that he could watch the start and the end of each day. With such a momentous job, Janus was the natural choice to usher in the New Year. But the actual first day of the New Year was up for grabs until the Roman Senate settled on January 1. Janus became the god people prayed to for mercy from their enemies and for a prosperous time ahead.

Janus is one of the few Roman gods that has no counterpart in Greek mythology as the Zeus/Jupiter or Hera/Juno duality. Janus was one of the "good gods" who humankind could appeal to for help in everyday life. How Janus became associated with the negative connotation of being hypocritical or deceitful: "two-faced" or "Janus-faced," remains a mystery. God of doors, gateways, beginnings, childbirth, the future and the past, he was often called upon at the start of wars. To show his support, the doors to his temple in the Roman Forum would remain open during wars, while they stayed closed during times of peace.

Beginning the New Year with resolutions is a tradition we are very familiar with. Many people pledge to work on bettering themselves, and vow to stop smoking, lose weight, or give up drinking. The ancient Romans also had resolutions, eager to throw out whatever bad luck they had in the old year and replace it with good luck in the new. They believed in giving New Year's gifts: olive branches from special, sacred trees; gold-covered nuts; or from the wealthy, gold coins of Janus himself.

We in modern times also look forward to a fresh start on January 1 and derive comfort from traditions with our family and friends. Our custom of having parties on New Year's Eve comes from the belief that what people did or ate on January 1 would affect the luck they would have throughout the coming year. What better way to ring in the New Year than celebrating with those you love?

Many people still believe in the tradition that if a tall, dark-haired man is the first person to enter their house, they will have good fortune for the entire year. And as for food, black-eyed peas are a requirement to eat on New Year's Day, along with ham or hog jowls, a symbol of prosperity. Some regions consider cabbage as lucky food, doughnuts as the circle of life, and even rice is considered fortuitous.

Whatever your New Year's resolutions are, may the god Janus be smiling down upon you.

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January is the perfect month for reading my JANUS IS A TWO-HEADED GOD, an award-winning science fiction romance is available at Amazon.com and Smashwords.com

The sequel, JANUS IS A TWO-FACED MOON, is available at on Amazon.com and Smashwords.com.

Happy New Year!

Susanne

Susanne Marie Knight

www.susanneknight.com

Read outside the box: award-winning Romance Writing With A Twist!

A Puppy For Christmas!

Just look at this adorable puppy!! Wouldn’t you want to see him as a holiday gift?

He’d be no muss, no fuss. Why? Because he’s Yo-Yo, the Yuletide Yorkshire, featured in the Minx Tobin murder mystery series, Case Five: THE YULETIDE YORKSHIRE. (Catchy name, right?)

Minx finds something unexpected under the Christmas tree. Unfortunately, it wasn’t something left by Santa.

Who is Minx Tobin, you ask? 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 the Minx Tobin Murder Mystery Series!

HO, HO, HO... OH!

Home for the holidays, Minx Tobin introduces her parents to her homicide lieutenant, Gabe Harris. Unfortunately for her, her ex-fiancé Jared drops in on them, creating friction. But Jared soon needs Minx's help in the sleuthing department because a gruesome "present" is found under the tree. Once again, Minx is hot on the trail of a desperate killer.

All Gabe wants to do is propose to the woman he loves. Instead, he has to deal with a cast of East Coast characters, including an unexpected murder. Why do dead bodies always seem follow Minx Tobin??

Visit http://youtu.be/EIjQKNbuZWw to see a trailer of this book--with previous cover.

Desert Breeze Publishing previously published all six Minx Tobin novels. The publishing rights are now returned to me and all six books have new covers! THE YULETIDE YORKSHIRE has received great reviews including FIVE Stars from Goodreads and 4.5 Stars from Sensual Reads!

THE YULETIDE YORKSHIRE is available for purchase electronically at Amazon.com and Smashwords.com and other Internet locations.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS from my house to yours!

Susanne

Susanne Marie Knight

www.susanneknight.com

Read outside the box: award-winning Romance Writing With A Twist!