You can never have enough books. Stay tuned as I interview authors and take a deeper look into their books.
As we get ready for our next author, I am going to post the first two chapters of my WIP. Release date: May 2020
Can’t wait until May? Check out the first book in my Esteban & Marialena series. Book one are two are available now!
Amazon link: http://bit.ly/EstebanMarialenaEverything else: https://books2read.com/u/mVQZE6
Pierce Leewood, known to the town of Cobbly Nob as the Piano Man, played for the visitors who graced Reagan Inn. His magical melodies made him beloved to guests but stories of his past left him a source of suspicion for locals. When young girls began to go missing and turned up dead, the Piano Man played his last tune.Twenty years later, Sarah Hayes and her daughter Amber find themselves uprooting their lives and returning to Cobbly Nob to help take care of family and the soon to reopen inn. While her mom and Grams immerse themselves in opening-day preparations, the mysteries of Reagan Inn and its most feared employee haunt Amber…as do its ghosts.As the monster known as the Piano Man sets his sights on Amber, she is determined to free the ghosts otherwise bound to suffer at his hands. Can she put an end to the Piano Man’s terror? Or will Amber find herself the next to face the music?
Purchase the book here: https://www.amazon.com/Piano-Man-Rena-Marin/dp/1096246880/ref=sr_1_2?keywords=piano+man+rena&qid=1565988592&s=gateway&sr=8-2
In your own words, how would you describe your book? Piano Man is YA ghost story about the family who owns an old Inn a small mountain town. The Inn has been remodeled and is set to reopen which has the ghostly spirit of the town’s most notorious murderer ready to claim new victims.
What inspired this story? I worked in a haunted hotel for quite awhile. My daughter Amber still talks about the motel all these years later and remembers things that happened when she would visit with us at work. It amazes me how she remembers so much since she was just small at the time. She is a huge paranormal fan, just like her momma, so the more we talked about it, I decided it was time to give the motel its own story in a way. Of course, the real piano man was nothing like the one created for the book, but the name is the same. It’s the name Amber, and several others, called one of the motel’s most active ghosts due to the piano in the corner playing so often.
What can you tell us of Cobbly Nob, where this story takes place? It’s actually a real community. I drive through it every day on my way to work and its beautiful. That’s what inspired me to use it as my setting. My version of Cobbly Nob is extended compared to the real location. It’s your typical small town. A grocery, a few mom and pops stores, library, small school, etc. To the older people in town it’s the perfect place to live a peaceful life. The kids? Well, they may get a few bouts of boredom which is why they are constantly looking for adventure to get into.
Have you or would you ever stay in a haunted inn? I have. The one I worked at would be my home several weeks in the winter months. It was hard to get to work when it would snow. If need be, the family and I would pack up and stay till things cleared up. I’ve spent many nights hearing things, seeing things, and even wandering around with the kids looking for things while there.
If you could place yourself in your book, which character would you be? What would you be doing? Oh, I would love to be one of the kids. Learning all the old legends about their town, exploring the Inn, and facing a new adventure would be something I would love to take part in. Especially the research part. I love reading about the history of haunted locations.
What surprised you most about your book as you were writing it? Piano Man began as a standalone. By the time I ended it, I found I couldn’t say goodbye to the characters and the location. A series is now in the works revolving around them. Graveyard Girls, book two, will be coming in 2020.
Give us a Rena Marin fun and/or unusual fact. I’m a huge horror/paranormal fan. Growing up, I didn’t have siblings to do the adventurous checking out of creepy places. My friends weren’t as into it as I was, so I was left with research and learning about places. Now, I have a partner in crime. My daughter, she’s 13, is just as taken by the paranormal as I have. We’ve started doing a few things here and there like ghost walks, explorations, etc. We have more planned for the future. I guess in a way you could call us wanna-be-investigators, lol.
What are you reading now? I just finished a reread of Wuthering Heights for an anthology I’m in. Next up will be Erin Lee’s Cotton Candy.
What can you tell us about your future releases? I have several anthologies releasing this year including Beyond Atlantis, Infamy, and Art Inspires with Crazy Ink. I also have the third installment of the Dead Oaks Terrors Series, Night Stalker coming in November which is written with Skylar McKinzie. In October, The Hunter’s Guild of Dark Hollow Ridge will be releasing. It is part two of my Dark Hollow Ridge saga. In December, another solo of mine, Backroad, will be released. As an exclusive author with Crazy Ink, all these titles will be published by them and their amazing team!
And because I’m a movie person, I have to ask, name a movie you could watch over and over and over again and still find merit in? Oh, I am such a huge movie fan!! I love too many! Let’s see as a fan, I love all the great horror movies of the 70’s 80’s and 90’s. Halloween, Scream, Nightmare on Elm Street, all of those. I love all the superhero movies too, but a good movie that gets me every time I watch it has to be Steel Magnolias. It’s my ugly cry movie but watching it reminds me of my family and the people I grew up with so much. Those women act just like my grandma and my aunts. It’s a great nod to life in the south and a time when things were simpler.
Order Piano Man here: https://www.amazon.com/Piano-Man-Rena-Marin/dp/1096246880/ref=sr_1_2?keywords=piano+man+rena&qid=1565988592&s=gateway&sr=8-2
Before I get started, I have had the privilege and honor to call this author my co-worker, if you will. Though we’ve never met, we are both exclusive authors for Crazy Ink and she has helped me brainstorm numerous times. Her hard work and determination is an inspiration. Okay, enough said, let’s get to the book, shall we?
In your own words, how would you describe your book?
Hi Eve, and thank you for this opportunity! I would describe my book as a thrilling, clean, read that will keep readers on the edge of their seats. A story of family, love, and betrayal.
What inspired you to come up with the idea for your Step Into Darkness series?
It started as a short story I wrote when I was fourteen. My parents have quite a large age gap between them and I was always concerned my dad would pass away when I was still a kid. The story was my way of mentally walking through my fears of what could be the aftereffects of that happening without actually having to go through it.
How many books will it be?
Right now, I’m planning on six books for this series, but that will all depend on where the story takes me. I’m not much of a plotter, so writing truly is an adventure for me and it’s hard to tell ahead of time how long or short a piece or series will be. At this point, I do have rough ideas for six, though.
What can you tell us about book two? And how long do we have to wait?! 🙂
Without giving too much away, I can say in book two, Gut Check, the steaks get even higher for Justine, Eric, and Camille and some characters may have even more to hide than we think. It will be releasing on September 24th 2019.
What is your favorite thing about your main character, Justine?
My favorite thing about Justine is honestly a trait I consider her best and worst. She puts others before herself. The reason I say this is her best and worst trait is because she sometimes does this to her own detriment. This is something I’ll have to work with her on in upcoming books. We’ve talked about it, but so far she hasn’t listened. haha
Your book is listed as a psychological thriller. What are some thrilling inspirations for you? Books? Films? Authors?
Thrilling inspirations for me, honestly, don’t necessarily have to be in the thriller category. Be it a book or a movie, if there’s a well written twist that I didn’t see coming, that is a thrill for me and something I strive for in my own work.
If you could place yourself in your book, which character would you be? What would you be doing?
This is such a great question, but a really hard one to answer. Every answer I think of would change the story in some huge way. I would probably be Eric’s mother Angelica, because she’s a tough woman who needs to be a bit nosier. I am nosy. I would have put an end to the shenanigans quickly.
What are writing must haves for you? Coffee, background music, tea?
In order to write, I need a timer for writing sprints when my mind isn’t playing along, water so I don’t get dehydrated, and someone to remind me to eat because I will forget.
What are you reading now?
I’m in between books at the moment. I’ve been in full editing mode. That being said, I’m really enjoying the Nikki Heat series.
And because I’m a movie person, I have to ask, name a movie you could watch over and over and over again and still find merit in?
That would have to be If Only. I do not cry easily, but this movie gets me every time and it has my favorite twist of all time!
Bonus fun facts about Justina:
Justina Luther is a lifetime author with a passion for reading, writing, animals and creativity. Be it a story or something she’s learned, sharing with her readers is her greatest joy. With a love for trying new things, she constantly finds experiences to add depth and realism to her fiction
In your own words, how would you describe your book?
It’s a love story of sorts. You have a young woman who loved her brother dearly. She starts to fall for a guy who she shouldn’t be involved in, and she loves her best friend. It’s definitely not just about the supernatural.
What supernatural elements can be found in your novel?
Well we have some witches, an old vampire, and a badass supernatural hunter along with some others who pop up here and there.
Where does your novel take place?
All over the United States. My characters travel around a bit, but they always come back to their home base (a home owned by a vampire).
What can you tell us about the rest of the series?
The rest of the series is packed of action and heartbreak, and even some more death. The second book continues Lily’s story, I can’t say too much without giving it away. The third book actually focuses more on a secondary character and the fourth book will focus on a character you don’t even meet until the end of the first book.
If you could be a werewolf, witch or vampire, which would you pick and why?
Witch. Ever since my Charmed days I’ve always loved the idea of witchcraft. It would be cool to do spells and have them work. Think of how many people I could help that way!
If you could place yourself in your book, which character would you be? What would you be doing?
I think I would be Lily’s long lost sister. I’d be her wing girl helping her find out who killed Ben (her brother).
What surprised you most about your book as you were writing it?
How easily it came together. I started a long time ago with a loose idea for this book, but it grew into something that was easy to write.
When you write, do you use a pen and journal, or do you write with a computer?
Computer. I always have a notebook and pen with me, but I also always carry my Chromebook or tablet so I can write anywhere.
What are writing must haves for you? Coffee, background music?
I’m actually a very strange person. I have to music playing, but it has to come from earbuds. If I don’t have the earbuds in my ears I just stare at my work.
What are you reading now?
What’s your Superpower. A Crazy Ink Anthology.
And because I’m a movie person, I have to ask, name a movie you could watch over and over and over again and still find merit in?
Ten Inch Hero.
You can order the book here: http://mybook.to/PrettyBonesPB
In your own words, how would you describe your book?
Pretty Bones, book one in a duology, is a coming of age story about a girl who grows up in a funeral home with a rare bone condition. If her life isn’t strange enough, those she encounters—mostly dead people—are.
What inspired you to come up with the idea for Pretty Bones?
I work as a therapist and have toyed with the idea of switching specialties to grief counselling. For that reason, I wanted to learn more about the dying process and ways to help families in mourning.
What can you tell us about Marlow? What is it like to live as the daughter of a mortician?
Marlow hates it. Her time after school is spent in the cremation room watching bodies burn. It’s made her an outcast at school and she resents the family business. At the same time, she’s morbidly curious and sees beauty in death and dying.
If you could give Marlow one piece of advice, what would you say?
I would tell her to hang in there. Life gets better after death and even somewhere in the middle.
Your book is listed as “twisted” contemporary coming of age novel. I love that. What are some “twisted” inspirations for you? Books? Films? Authors?
Nearly all of my favorite reading and other interests have some sort of dark element in them. I’m an extremely optimistic and hopeful person. ‘Dark’ is the opposite of my true nature which is why I am so curious about it. I am a huge Stephen King fan and got hooked with the movie Carrie and later his books.
What message would you like readers to take away from “Pretty Bones”?
That growing up is hard for everyone, but worse for some. I want people to get that everyone has problems and we can all relate on some level. Death is the ultimate equalizer and I think that this book and its sequel, Boned, both make it clear that we are all in this crazy thing called life (and ultimately, death) together.
If you could place yourself in your book, which character would you be? What would you be doing?
I would be Marlow. Her strength and persistence are things I admire about her. I would probably have fought the family business and sexism themes more because I’m a little spunkier than she is, but overall, she also taught me patience. I still think about this character and could learn from her. I think we all could.
What are writing must haves for you? Coffee, background music, tea?
Tea. Five hour energy. Silence.
What are you reading now?
Everything Ever about Edgar Allen Poe (it’s a real book). His life story is fascinating.
And because I’m a movie person, I have to ask, name a movie you could watch over and over and over again and still find merit in?
Green Mile
You can order Pretty Bones here: http://mybook.to/PrettyBonesPB
Although Amanda loves it, she recognizes that life is much more complicated than ice cream and bubble gum.
She and Seth are a pair and have been forever. Along comes newcomer, Cory, who doesn’t act or look like them. Will he shake up their world? Cory wants only to finally be accepted by his peers. Seth longs for the courage to grab the one thing that he desperately wants.
And what does Amanda wish for besides ice cream and bubble gum? She craves what they all want—a special someone to love.
Release date July 27th!!! You can pre-order it here: http://mybook.to/BubbleGumCI
In your own words, how would you describe your book?
Bubble Gum Love is a YA romance about more than just ice cream, bubble gum, and love. It’s a fast, fun read that touches on many things teens care most about.
What inspired this story?
As a school teacher and mother of four, I’ve witnessed much of what you’ll read in Bubble Gum love. I wanted to bring it to life in the story to show kids there are ways to handle these situations without fighting, running away, or committing suicide.
What can you tell us about the Ice Cream Shop series?
The Ice Cream Shop series is a brilliant concept. All stories must somehow involve ice cream, romance, and a happily ever after ending. From there, the diverse authors went in their own directions with very unique stories. None of the novellas contain erotica. I believe mine is the only YA tale.
Where does the book take place?
Bubble Gum Love takes place in the Laconia, NH area, which is one of the top summer tourist spots in New Hampshire.
What can you tell us about Amanda?
Amanda (Mandy) Pearson is almost sixteen and heading into her junior year of high school. She’s smart, popular with the kids who do things like yearbook, school newspaper, and school spirit (nerds). She works at the local ice cream joint called Rick’s Creamery, which the local teens have dubbed Rick Creams.
If you could place yourself in your book, which character would you be? What would you be doing?
I’d be Tara Sullivan, the drama queen. She’s literally the school’s best actress and dancer. She’s so much fun. She’s also a bit overweight as I am, but her personality is so bubbly that everyone wants to be with her. In fact, one of the main male characters falls for her, hard.
What surprised you most about your book as you were writing it?
The same thing that always surprises me. Once I really get into the characters and am about halfway through writing the characters, believe it or not, they start saying things I didn’t know they’d say. And I go with it. I just type what they say, what they’re feeling. Their words spill out. They take on a life of their own. For example, when Cory confesses how it felt to be a military brat and having had to move around so much from school to school, I could feel his pain. I only moved once in my school career. It was painful enough. Cory’s story broke my heart when he confessed it to Tara’s father.
Give us a Rita Delude fun and/or unusual fact.
I get most of my character names by reading the obits daily.
What is your favorite flavor of ice cream? Why?
Chocolate chip. The more dark chocolate chips the better. I made up the dark chocolate chip with walnuts ice cream called Double Nut Double Dark for the book and hope someone will create it because I want a full tub of it.
Any future Rita Delude releases coming up?
I’ll be publishing more YA titles in the Donut Shop Series: (Lemon Yellow) and the Candy Shop Series (Lollipop Lure). An 18+ romance called Dracula’s Choice just released. A contemporary romance called Adam’s Anguish releases in December of 2019.
And because I’m a movie person, I have to ask, name a movie you could watch over and over and over again and still find merit in?
Because I’m a romantic and love Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks, I’ll say Sleepless in Seattle.
But I love Finding Forrester, Good Will Hunting, Forrest Gump, Dead Poet’s Society, and Grand Torino.
You can pre-order Bubble Gum Love here: http://mybook.to/BubbleGumCI
In your own words, how would you describe your book?
I would say that My Dark Passenger is like Stranger Things meets urban legends. The main character, Kevin Wolf, finds out that there are supernatural monsters in the world that he had no idea existed, and because you’re reading the story through his eyes, you’re not entirely sure what’s real and what isn’t.
Kevin is on a long road trip back to his hometown. What is he thinking about moments before he picks up the mysterious hitchhiker?
This trip back to his hometown is very significant for Wolf. It’s a trip that he used to make with his daughter who is no longer in his life (which you find out more about as the book goes on). So, he’s already in this dark and emotional place by the time he comes across this hitchhiker. The hitchhiker is a teenage girl, the same age that his own daughter would be, so when Wolf sees her on the highway by herself at night, he goes into the mindset of concerned parent.
What can you tell us about the dark and mysterious passenger?
I can’t say too much about her without giving out spoilers! However, I will say this: I purposefully left the mysterious girl’s motives to be somewhat ambiguous. So, whether she is a good guy, a bad guy, or neither is open to interpretation.
Your novel involves a town-wide Halloween festival. What is one of your favorite Halloween moments as a child or adult?
Well, first of all, I grew up near a town called Anoka, which has claimed the title of Halloween Capital of the World. As far as I can tell, the only thing the city did to earn that title was host one of the first Halloween parades back in 1920 (thank you, Google). So, when I was a kid, my mom used to run in the Anoka Halloween Gray Ghost 5k Run & 1 Mile Walk. My dad, my sister, and I used to go and watch the race and the parade so that we could cheer her on. Another cool thing that the cities in my area used to do was have some businesses participate in trick-or-treating a week or two before Halloween. A bunch of kids would dress up in costumes and go around certain shopping centers where employees handed out candy.
As an adult, my best friend and I have a tradition of watching scary movies on Halloween night while we wait for kids to ring the doorbell. I also may have dressed up as a clown a few years ago just to scare her, and she still hasn’t forgiven me. (Worth it, though!)
If you could place yourself in your book, which character would you be? What would you be doing?
Hm… Realistically, I would probably be the character named Sharron, who stays in this small town and ends up volunteering for events specifically geared toward kids. If I was going to be adventurous though, I might make myself the mysterious hitchhiker. I think it would be fun exploring a supernatural world that’s usually invisible to everyone else.
What surprised you most about your book as you were writing it?
This is one of the few books that I’ve written that didn’t make me feel uncertain. Usually when I write a book, I go back and forth between thinking that my writing is great and thinking that it’s terrible. But as I was writing My Dark Passenger, and after I finished it, I could honestly say that I believed it was a good story without feeling any kind of doubt or self-consciousness.
What are writing must haves for you? Coffee, background music?
A story playlist is a must-have for me! Music plays such a big role in my writing. It really helps me set whatever mood I’m trying to create in the book, and it can help me get into the mindset of different characters. I don’t necessarily listen to these playlists while I’m writing, but I’ll listen to them when I’m in the car or out on a walk, which is when I do a lot of my mental planning.
What are you reading now?
I’m only reading three books at a time right now! (It’s been as high as five in the past—shh!) I’m reading Anastasia: The Lost Princess by James Blair Lovell, Darkansas by Jarret Middleton, and The Survivors by Jipsi Lee.
And because I’m a movie person, I have to ask, name a movie you could watch over and over and over again and still find merit in?
I feel like there are SO many movies that I could put down for this question (I’m a movie person too—high five!). Well, my favorite movie is The Princess Bride. I have been watching it ever since I was a little kid, and it’s still one of the funniest movies I’ve seen. A funny movie that I believe needs to be watched more than once in order to appreciate it is Fantastic Mr. Fox. The humor and the timing in that movie is so strange that you miss so many little details the first and even second time you watch it.
I tend to watch movies most often with my sister, and two more serious movies that we watch relatively frequently is Coraline and The Dark Knight. I think Coraline especially is very psychologically intriguing. My sister and I have had a few late-night discussions about how the uncanny is used to create tension and fear in that movie, as well as the psychological implications of having a mother figure be the villain of the story.
In your own words, how would you describe your book?
Karaoke Night is the story of a travel blogger who goes missing for 3 days. When he is found, he has no memory of his lost time, but what he does have is a digital recorder featuring a series of interviews held at a small-town karaoke bar. Each story is told in the form of a transcript from said interviews.
What inspired you to come up with the idea for a karaoke-themed book?
I was out drinking with a couple of buddies, one of whom is a musician, and we got talking about how boring it must get to play the same songs every night. That led to talking about people singing the same karaoke songs over and over. I started thinking about the reasons why they might choose a specific song and found that there might be some cool little stories there.
What is your go-to Karaoke song?
I try to avoid singing at all costs given that I am terrible. If I was forced to get up there, I’d probably choose “Everybody’s Changing” by Keane. That one always sounds acceptable when I sing it out loud in the shower.
I can remember an epic Karaoke fail on my part. Have you experienced that? Come on, spill it! 😉
It’s always an epic fail when I get up to sing. Busted pianos are more in tune than I am.
Your main character, Brian, is a travel blogger. What’s your favorite travel destination?
That’s an easy one. I could go to Las Vegas every single weekend and never grow tired of the experience. I loved San Francisco and would like to get back to my native Scotland at some point.
Your book is listed as horror. What are some horror inspirations for you? Books? Films? Authors?
I grew up watching all the old black and white horror movies with my Mum. They had Friday night double features when I was a wee boy. I would beg to stay up to watch, but my mum would send me to bed only to come and wake me when they started. After she passed, I got several large horror tattoo pieces that includes a “thanks for the late nights, mum” inscription underneath. As far as books go, it would be Clive Barker that serves as my main inspiration. He has a way of making the grotesque sound poetic and beautiful.
If you could place yourself in your book, which character would you be? What would you be doing?
I’d probably be the main character. He is a naturally inquisitive writer, which is probably the best way to describe myself.
What are writing must haves for you? Coffee, background music, bourbon?
I need coffee to get the ball rolling. I love having music playing in the background, although it’s usually always instrumental. I am on a bit of a dark ambient, witch house kick at the moment. I love a beer, but don’t drink until I am done writing for the day.
What are you reading now?
I usually have 2 or 3 books on the go at any given time. I just finished “Eternal Darkness” by Tom Deady and am about to jump into one called “A Heart in the Right Place” by Heidy Goody and Iain Grant. That one is set in Scotland, so I’m very much looking forward to it. I as also working my way through novels written by the Crazy Ink Exclusive Authors.
And because I’m a movie person, I have to ask, name a movie you could watch over and over and over again and still find merit in?
Oh, I have a bunch that fit into this category, including The Shining, The Exorcist, Blade Runner, and Pulp Fiction. I can stumble onto these titles on TV and get caught up in them, even when they are halfway done.
*About the author*
Robots, clowns, and living statues are among the extensive list of things that terrify author John Watson. He is of the belief that writing about these horrors will make him immune to their evils, but the cure is still a work in progress. Watson spends most of his time hiding out in the closet space beneath the stairs, where he is currently working on a series of scary short stories. He has published Karaoke Night and a short story in Crazy Ink Publishing’s anthology Infamy, but has others in the works for 2019 and 2020 with Crazy Ink Publishing.
He resides in Atlanta with his chef wife Penny and a pair of equally skittish fur babies.
Follow John Watson at:
Web: www.authorjohnwatson.com
Facebook: facebook.com/authorjohnwatson
Instagram: Instagram.com/authorjohnw
Twitter: twitter.com/authorjohnw
Find the book here: Bit.ly/KNpreorder
