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Tuesday, October 24, 2017

he is convinced he was murdered - End of the Road by Karen Michelle Nutt

"I'm sorry," he told her before he winked out. It was the only way she could explain what she witnessed. He was standing there one moment then poof he wasn't. 


Description:

Published: October 22nd, 2017
Cover Artist: Gillian's Book Covers

A rock legend never dies. Sometimes, he comes back as a ghost...

Lars Gunner, the frontman for Silent Plaids, died 23 years ago and his death was ruled an unfortunate accident. Despite the fact he can't recall what happened to him in his last moments of life, he is convinced he was murdered. 

He has been trapped in limbo until his daughter, Cecilia, unearths his journal and is able to see him. 

She seeks help from Kaleb, a psychic, but as they resurrect the past, the secrets and lies surrounding Lars' rock and roll life just may be the death of them too.

GUEST POST
Best Ghost Stories and Books

Everyone has a favorite ghost story, a tale that haunts you, makes you shiver and urges you to turn on the hall light even though you know it's only a few steps to the next room. 

Then there are other ghost stories that are just eerie and suspenseful or make you wonder what is going on, and last but not least, there are those ghost stories that are fueled with humor, and even romance. 

Here are some of my favorite ghost story movies: 
Crimson Peak ** The Sixth Sense ** The Others ** A Christmas Carol ** Ghost Busters ** Ghost ** Just Like Heaven ** The Ghost and Mrs.Muir  ** Poltergeist ** Blackbeard's Ghost ** The Canterville Ghost ** Sleepy Hollow  ** Topper

Though I have many, here are a few of my favorite all-time ghost story books. 

The Ghost of Dibble Hallow by May Nickerson Wallace (One of the first ghost stories I read. Great for children 8 to 10 years old.) 

Lover Unbound (Black Dagger Brotherhood, Book 5) by J.R. Ward 

Dr. Charlotte Stone series by Karen Robards (4 books)- I just listened to them on Audible. 
* * * * * 
In End of the Road, my ghost (Lars Gunner) is the father of Cecilia, the heroine. He died when Cecilia was three years old and now she's a grown woman. Imagine what it would be like for her to meet her father as a ghost. He would still look 27 years old. The same age she is. 

To him, she is still his baby girl, and though life has moved on for her, she remembers her dad and for a second is transported back in time. 

Now for a sneak peek. This is the moment where Cecilia realizes she is indeed talking to the ghost of her father. Cecilia is speaking first. 

EXCERPT: 

"Listen, I'm not sure what you think you're going to gain here by pretending to be my father. Sure, you look a lot like him, but there's just one flaw. My father, if he still lived and breathed, would be fifty years old." 

His expression plainly revealed his annoyance with her and he opened his mouth to say something but closed it again when the floor lamp behind him dimmed. Just as the room threatened to go dark, the crackle of electricity brought the light bulb back to life once more. 

She stared wide-eyed at the Lars-lookalike for a full two seconds before she realized why something seemed off. She could see the lamp standing tall and bright but not to the side of him. She could see the lamp right through him as if his body mass had suddenly gone transparent. She closed her eyes then reopened them again as if doing so would clear her vision, but nothing changed. 

"What's wrong?" he asked with concern. 

Now, wasn't that a loaded question? "You're..." she pointed at him and swallowed the lump in her throat. "I-I can see right through you." 

The Lars-lookalike glanced down at himself and cursed. "I'm sorry," he told her before he winked out. It was the only way she could explain what she witnessed. He was standing there one moment then poof he wasn't. 

She blinked and blinked again. Had she really seen her father's ghost? "No. No. Not possible." 

However, before she could fully convince herself, a shimmering light appeared where he'd been standing seconds ago and the floor lamp dimmed and brightened. Then the Lars-lookalike was zapped right into existence once more as if he never did his disappearing act. He appeared vibrant and alive and definitely solid. 

"Don't scream," he warned with his hands up in a calming gesture. 

"I'm losing my mind," she said to herself but the Lars-lookalike seemed to think she was speaking to him. 

"You're not. I've been trying to make contact with someone, anyone...in what seems like forever." 

"You've been dead for twenty-three years so what do you mean you've tried?" Then she realized what she said. Did she really believe she was seeing her father's ghost? Hell, she was talking to her father's ghost. 

"Twenty-three years," he repeated then seemed to ponder those words as if he'd lost count of the years he'd been gone from the world of the living. 

"After all this time, why can I see you?" she asked even though her mind argued this couldn't be happening. "Can Mom see you?" she threw another question at him before he could answer the first. Lars is here, her mother had stated earlier tonight. Only, she hadn't believed her, since she thought the alcohol and drugs were doing the talking. 

"Your mother can't see me, but at times I believe she has sensed my presence." 

Her gaze took in the sight of him once more. He wore a button down shirt and black jeans tucked into black utility boots, or at least that's what they looked like to her. Her gaze met his, and blue eyes so much like hers stared back at her. "Dad?" Her voice cracked with emotion. If for a moment she believed the impossible, this was her father. "Daddy?" slipped out before she could stop herself and she crossed the room to him. He opened his arms to her, but instead of feeling the comfort of his embrace she passed right through him and a cold tingling sensation and a crackle of electricity followed, making her shiver in response. 

She whirled around to find her father had turned to face her too. His eyes widened and he seemed just as stunned as she felt. She tentatively reached for him again and though he appeared solid, her hand passed right through his upper arm and the same cold tingle spread through her fingers and the crackle of static echoed in her ears. Touching him didn't really shock her like static electricity, but she did feel something, like a resistance where he stood, as if the cool air numbing her fingers was actually the substance that made up her father, but there was nothing more. He was not a solid form, not like someone who was alive and not dead. 
* * * * * 
I hope when you read the End of the Road you'll enjoy the father and daughter moments as much as the mystery that unfolds. 

Question: I'm curious, what is your favorite type of ghost story and why?
Do you like it to be eerie? Scary? Romantic? Suspenseful? 
It can be a movie or a book. 

About the author:
Karen Michelle Nutt resides in California with her husband. Though her three children are grown and starting their own adventures, she still has a houseful of demanding pets. Jack, her Chorkie, is her writing buddy and sits long hours with her at the computer.

When she's not time traveling, fighting outlaws, or otherworldly creatures, she creates pre-made book covers to order at Gillian's Book Covers, "Judge Your Book By Its Cover".

Whether your reading fancy is paranormal, historical or time travel, all her stories capture the rich array of emotions that accompany the most fabulous human phenomena—falling in love.


Author's Giveaway

3 comments:

  1. Thank you, Mythical Books for having me on your lovely blog. Much appreciated.

    ReplyDelete
  2. You're very welcome.

    I cannot wait to read this book!

    ReplyDelete