The Progressive Book Club & a Visit with Ellie Garratt

I am interviewed by fellow Untethered Realms author Ellie Garratt today as part of her Speculative Fiction Writers series. I really enjoyed answering Ellie's questions and am thrilled to be part of her series. Please come and visit with us here. Thanks for interviewing me, Ellie! :)

Also, today is my first time posting as part of Michael L. Swift's Progressive Book Club. I meant to join this club a long time ago but got sidetracked, so I figured since this is the group's first meeting for 2014 there was no time like the present to finally join in.

If you'd like to participate as well visit Michael's site here for all the details.

The book I am sharing today is Haunted by my friend Susan Oloier. I signed up for a review copy of the book last month and was so glad I did! This was a fantastic read, and if I didn't already know Susan was a gifted author this book would have definitely convinced me.

I had been remiss in getting my Goodreads review written but finally got it done today, so I am just going to share that review here.

Haunted is a touching and beautifully written story about loss, love, and figuring out how to live again after a single mistake brings about the unthinkable.

Teenage Hailey grows sleepy behind the wheel and crashes her car while driving home from a party with her boyfriend Jeremy. Hailey survives the accident while Jeremy does not. Hailey has to figure out how to go on without the boy she loves and how to forgive herself for the mistake which took his life. Needless to say, neither is easy to do.

The story also focuses on Eli, a boy Hailey meets who is struggling with his own demons, and on Jeremy himself, who is trying to figure out how to leave the land of the living behind and enter into the spiritual realm where he now belongs.

Oloier has a gift with language and her writing is so lyrical that at times it feels like poetry. This is a book that will stay with you long after you have finished the final page.

As you can tell from my review, I highly recommend this book. Now I'm looking forward to hopping around and seeing the books everyone else is sharing today. Thanks to Michael for hosting this group!

Hope to see you over at Ellie's!

Talking Ghosts with Gwen Gardner, 'Tis More Blessed Winner, and Susan Oloier's Latest

I'm hanging out with fellow Untethered Realms member Gwen Gardner, author of Givin' Up the Ghost and Guilty Ghost Surprised, to chat about something we obviously both love - ghost stories. I share some of my favorite ghost books and movies, and Gwen's titles definitely belong on that list. Please come visit Gwen and me here.

I'm also happy to announce that Sherry Ellis won the ebook copy of The Ghosts of Aquinnah that I gave away as part of the 'Tis More Blessed giveaway. Congratulations to Sherry! And thanks to everyone who entered the giveaway. I'm on board for another round with Milo this Friday and am looking forward to it.

Finally, it's release day for Susan Oloier's latest novel Haunted.  I'm reading Haunted right now and it is a beautifully written and deeply moving story. Susan has a real gift with words. Congratulations and best of luck on the release, Susan!