Paranormal Excerpt - The Secret Door

My "working" cover for visual
inspiration as I wrote for "The
Secret Door."

Here is a special "sneak peak" excerpt from "The Secret Door." The excerpt could change from the final publication. Leave a comment today, Saturday, and Sunday along with your email and I'll select one winner to receive a PDF copy of one of the Budapest Moon Books, The Hungarian, The Count's Lair, or Danube in Candlelight, winner's choice.

EXCERPT:

Footfalls near the door caught his attention. The sweet, innocent scent of apples teased his senses. He swallowed. This woman was not Inna. The door opened and the lovely Sophia Varga walked in. She offered him a small smile and placed the tray she held on the nightstand before taking a seat next to the bed.

"How are you feeling?" she asked.
"Unwell."
"You had a rough night."
"Indeed."

She held up her hand. "May I touch you?"

He nodded. Sophia placed her palm against his forehead. "You feel hot."

"A fever is typical after a transformation," he replied.

She withdrew her hand. "Yes, it is. I've brought lotions and the elixir you need. Will you allow me to attend you?"

He pursed his lips, concern and curiosity making an odd mix. Where was Inna? After a long pause he acquiesced. "All right."

She plucked a glass off the tray and presented it to him. "Your elixir. Drink up. I'm sorry I wasn't able to come sooner. Konrad and I worked as fast as we could. You're lucky your butler is so knowledgeable about your dietary needs. He was a big help to me in the kitchen."

"Inna taught him. Where is she?" He sipped from the glass.

"She has a concussion." Sophia paused, offering him a sympathetic smile. "She had a deep gash behind her ear when she came to us last night. Rita, Tomas' wife, stitched the wound, but her pupils are still dilated and she's dizzy. Rita's with her now. As soon as Inna's better, Rita will send her to you."

"I have your word that's the extent of her injuries?"

"Yes." Sophia slid off his pajama bottoms, leaving only his undergarment covering his manhood. Then she took the jar of lotion and scooped out a handful, positioning herself near the end of the bed where his feet rested. As a wolf he needed the lotion, made of rose petals, camphor, and aloe, to heal his skin. Usually Inna applied the healing crème. Zoltan scooted toward the headrest, positioning his back against the board as he finished his drink. The liquid warmed his throat and heated his stomach. The elixir accelerated his healing factor and augmented it, giving his muscles and joints a chance to recover from their distended positioning as a wolf. Even now he internally felt the muscles and bone coming together in the break of his arm, and he felt the skin mending in his shoulder. Still, it would take days for the injuries to fully heal, but days would be infinitely more tolerable than weeks.

He glanced at Sophia. Determination furrowed her brow. Zoltan appreciated her initiative and her desire to take Inna's place. Sophia had a giving heart, one Zoltan admired. He leaned over and grabbed the wooden tray off the nightstand, quite a feat for him since he wasn't that good with his left hand. There was a plate of food on it - eggs, chicken, milk, and potatoes – items that helped his healing factor as well. Starving, he shoveled the food awkwardly into his mouth.

Sophia rubbed the lotion onto his foot and Zoltan drew in a sharp, involuntary breath. Adrenaline rushed through his limbs, sparking his feral attraction.

You can find Stephanie at:

WEBSITE:
http://www.stephanieburkhart.com

TWITTER:
http://twitter.com/StephBurkhart

FACEBOOK:
https://www.facebook.com/StephanieBurkhartAuthor

GOOD READS:
http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4031660.Stephanie_Burkhart

YOU TUBE CHANNEL:
http://www.youtube.com/user/botrina?feature=mhee

PINTEREST:
http://pinterest.com/sgburkhart/

Paranormal Week: A Look at the Award Winning Moldavian Moon Series

GOLD winner in the 2012 Reader's Favorite Contest, Fiction: Supernatural, "The Wolf's Torment."

The witches in this series are torn between loyalty and love, often making difficult choices in the face of adversity. The Moldavian Moon series is a notch darker than the Budapest Moon Series and the wolves have little to no redeeming qualities – they are truly "bad to the bone." Set in Romania between 1860-1880's, the series captures a classic paranormal feel involving witches, werewolves, and vampires.

In BOOK 1, "The Wolf's Torment," Crown Prince Mihai Sigmaringen is a witch. His best friend, Viktor, marries Mihai's sister, Sonia. Mihai himself marries a witch, Theresa. The dynamic between the characters becomes complicated when Viktor is bitten by a wolf. He struggles to retain his humanity, but eventually crosses a line, forcing Mihai and Theresa to make the most difficult choices of their lives.

REVIEW: "The Wolf’s Torment is certainly more than a story about a werewolf. There is quite a bit of depth in this multifaceted story of a family’s struggle with life, love and loss. The ending is definitely bittersweet and I had many questions that I hope will be answered in the next book in the series. I’m glad I had the opportunity to read this intriguing tale. Fans of historical, paranormal romance should give The Wolf’s Torment a try." – Poinsettia, Long and Short Reviews, 4.5 Books, Nominated for BOOK OF THE WEEK.

BUY LINK:
http://stores.desertbreezepublishing.com/-strse-163/Stephanie-Burkhart-Moldavian-Moon/Detail.bok

In BOOK 2, "Twilight Over Moldavia," Prince Stefan is Mihai's son. He's also been cursed to become a werewolf on his 18th birthday. He's got one chance to break the curse – fall in love with the princess from Carpathia, Caroline. But is Caroline a woman he can fall in love with? Complicating matters is Timon, the werewolf who wants to see the curse fulfilled in Stefan.

REVIEW:
"Twilight Over Moldavia is even better than the first book in the series. It is an excellent story filled with just the right balance of romance, magic, and danger. Stefan and Caroline’s story certainly has a happy and satisfying ending, but the epilogue opens up a whole new story line. I’m already looking forward to the next book in this exciting series." – Poinsettia, 5 Books, Long and Short Reviews, Nominated for Book of the Month, FEB 2012

BUY LINK:
http://stores.desertbreezepublishing.com/-strse-247/Moldavian-Moon-Book-Two/Detail.bok

COMING UP:

BOOK 3 in the series will be "Sunrise Over Brasov," and its due to be published in July 2013. Prince Michael Sigmaringen is on a mission to save Lady Rosa Getzi, the woman he loves, from the wolf Clement and his witch, Cassandra. Rosa, however, has been traumatized by her captivity and isn't quite giving of her trust. Can Michael make her fall in love with him all over again?

You can find the Prequel Free read here:
http://stores.desertbreezepublishing.com/-strse-130/Stephanie-Burkhart-Moldavian-Moon/Detail.bok


Tomorrow: A Look at "The Secret Door."

Paranormal Week - Things That Go Bump in the Night

Happy Halloween!

There are all kinds of creatures that go bump in the night. Wolves, ghosts, witches, black cats, zombies, and vampires are a few. Movies and TV shows have given us numerous paranormal offerings. Who can forget Bela Lugosi's Dracula? Lon Chaney's Wolfman? There's Cassandra Patterson's "Elivira," The iconic "Halloween" movies, "Scream," and "Nightmare on Elm Street," make our pulse pound. I'd be remiss if I didn't include the creepy "Twilight Zone" TV show from the 1950's and the campy "Dark Shadows" series. Harry Potter and the "Twilight" series appeal to the younger audiences of today. One of my personal favorite paranormal series is "Underworld."

Underworld has the perfect mix of action, romance, mystery, and nail-biting suspense. Plus, it makes me think. Kate Beckinsale gives "Selene" depth, striking a great balance between Selene's vulnerabilities and physical prowess. The back story is interesting and the story going forward in Underworld 4 is compelling.

Question: I'd love to find out who your favorite paranormal character is. Or your favorite movie/show. Why? What stirs your paranormal heartstrings?

Leave a comment to the question and your email and I'll pick two winners to receive a FREE PDF copy of "Heart of Moldavia," and "Under a Christmas Moon."

Tomorrow: A Look at the Moldavian Moon Series

Spotlight: The Award Winning Budapest Moon Series

AWARDS:
Most Unique/Unusual Romance Setting 2011 – Hope Chest Reviews

2011 SILVER Award Winner Reader's Favorite Contest, Romance: Sci-Fi/Fantasy – "The Count's Lair"

2012 FINALIST Reader's Favorite Contest, Romance: Sci-Fi/Fantasy – "Danube in Candlelight"

The wolves in the Budapest Moon series find themselves trapped between the modern world and the dictates of the old myths which come from being a wolf.

In BOOK 1, "The Hungarian," Matthias Duma finds himself in England so his daughter can get to know her grandparents. He struggles with his condition, and discovers it's not easy to conceal the fact he's a wolf from the world. When he meets Katherine Archibald, she challenges him, stimulates him, and breaks through the battlements surrounding his heart. Dare he fall in love again? The novel is set in 1901 in England and Budapest.

REVIEW:
"I highly recommend The Hungarian, even if you aren't that interested in the paranormal such as werewolves. The romantic tale of The Hungarian is enough to win over anyone." - Sizzling Hot Book Reviews, 5 Hearts

BUY LINK:
http://stores.desertbreezepublishing.com/-strse-87/%3Ci%3EBudapest-Moon-Book-One%3C-fdsh-i%3E-cln-/Detail.bok

In BOOK 2, "The Count's Lair," Anton Varga can't deny the attraction he feels for Lady Amelia Andrassy. She drives away the loneliness that surrounds his heart. Fearing she won't believe his secret, (he's a wolf) he gives her 3 clues. Can Amelia accept Anton for what he is? The novel is set in 1901-2 during Christmas in Budapest.

REVIEW:
"This is one of the best werewolf books I have ever read. Stephanie Burkhart gives a great view of the 18th Century Catholic Church and Werewolf relationship, as well as going into more detail about the attributes of werewolves. If you enjoy the Werewolf legends, or just romantic relationships, The Count's Lair is a wonderful read." - Sizzling Hot Book Reviews, 5 Hearts

BUY LINK:
http://stores.desertbreezepublishing.com/-strse-142/Stephanie-Burkhart-Budapest-Moon/Detail.bok

BOOK 3, "Danube in Candlelight," is set in 1922 just after World War I. Morgan Duma returns to Budapest after living in England with relatives. The daughter of a wolf, her unusual eyes and lupine characteristics set her apart from other women. Morgan becomes a nurse, but her mother's severe injuries and her father's secret drive her down a reckless path which werewolf Zoltan Kristos takes advantage of. He turns Morgan. Is the love Morgan shares with Adam strong enough to withstand the challenges of her lupine's condition?

REVIEW:
"Once again, Stephanie Burkhart has touched my imagination and with her writing brings 1922 Hungary to life. Danube in Candlelight is a very romantic, yet spicy read. This is a must read if you enjoy the paranormal werewolf stories or even if you merely enjoy a great romance." – Sizzling Hot Book Reviews

BUY LINK:
http://stores.desertbreezepublishing.com/-strse-219/Budapest-Moon-Book-III/Detail.bok

COMING UP:

BOOK 4 in the series, "The Secret Door" will be available in FEB 2013. Set in 1927, the story takes place between Sopron, Miskolc, and Budapest. Zoltan Kristos falls hard for Anton Varga's daughter, Sophia. When Zoltan is pursued by a reckless wolf, Sophia comes to his aid. Can love bloom in a garden full of secrets and denials?

QUESTION: How do you spend your Halloween? Do you pass out treats? Bake? Watch scary movies? I'd love to hear your comments.

Tomorrow: Things That Go Bump in the Night

Welcome to Paranormal Week at Desert Breeze!

Q&A with Paranormal Author Stephanie Burkhart

Welcome to Paranormal Week at Desert Breeze. Halloween is just around the corner. The spooks, ghouls, and goblins are on the hunt. If you get a chance, explore the interesting paranormal titles Desert Breeze has to offer here: http://stores.desertbreezepublishing.com/-strse-Paranormal/Categories.bok

QUESTION: Tell us a little about yourself, Stephanie. How long have you been writing?

STEPH: I grew up in Manchester, New Hampshire. When I turned 18, I joined the US Army and spent 7 years stationed overseas in Germany. In 1997, I left the Army and settled in California with my husband. Currently, I work for LAPD as a 911 dispatcher.

I've been writing since I was six, but I didn't start writing for publication until I got out of the Army. My first story was a self-published effort, Destination: Berlin, but I'm looking for a new home for it. I've been on Writing.com since 2005 and it really helped me grow as a writer.

QUESTION: When did you realize things went bump in the night?

STEPH: When I was a little girl. I was convinced a vampire lived under my bed, so I always made sure the covers reached my neck. It probably didn't help that I watched "Creature Double Feature" on Saturdays, either. I learned everything I needed to know about vampires, werewolves, Godzilla, zombies, and Frankenstein from watching that show.

QUESTION: The Budapest Moon series is set in Hungary. Have you been? Tell us about the series.

STEPH: I was deployed to Hungary from July – October 1997. I was stationed in Taszur, Hungary in support of the troops in Bosnia. My time in Hungary was very rewarding to me. I also had a chance to go to Budapest on a USO trip. Budapest was amazing. When I began to write Matthias and Katherine's story, I knew I wanted to set it in Budapest. It's a city where you just might believe a werewolf might live.

The series explores how werewolves struggle to live in a changing world while trying to deal with their dangerous infliction. The series spans from 1901-1927. The wolves have witches to tend to them during the full moon. They deal with adversity, challenges, experiencing their emotions in a heightened state from disappointment to love. Can the power of love help them manage their challenges of being a wolf?

QUESTION: Have you ever written a ghost story?

STEPH: I have! It's a free read offered with Desert Breeze called "Under a Christmas Moon." A ghost haunts Matthias and Katherine, the couple from "The Hungarian," in the Budapest Moon series.

QUESTION: Who is your favorite witch that you've written?

STEPH: I love all my witches. I really enjoyed writing "Beatrice" from "The Wolf's Torment." My favorite witch outside of my writing is Hermione Granger from the Harry Potter series.

QUESTION: Who is your favorite wolf that you've written?

STEPH: Another toughie! My heart goes out to "Anton" from "The Count's Lair." He had a real tough life growing up and then he's bitten by a wolf.

QUESTION: Do you have a favorite paranormal movie?

STEPH: I love the Underworld movies, especially 1 and 2. I loved 3 for the back story. Kate Beckinsale is great as "Selene."

QUESTION: Are you a plotter or a panster?

STEPH: A panster for sure. I draft a rough outline, then plot out the first 3 chapters. Then I "fly by the seat of my pants" until the end.

QUESTION: Do you decorate and get dressed up for Halloween?

STEPH: I like to decorate the front yard for the boys, but this year I haven't. Sadly, there's just not enough time in the day. I haven't decided if I'll be Spongebob or Daenerys for Halloween.

I'd love to hear your Hallowen plans. Are you going to give out candy? Get dressed up? Attend a party? Host a party? I usually give out Junior Mints because my son has a nut allergy and I don't like to give out candy with nuts.

Feel Free to visit the following paranormal author pages:

STEPHANIE BURKHART:
http://stores.desertbreezepublishing.com/-strse-template/StephanieBurkhart/Page.bok

J MORGAN:
http://stores.desertbreezepublishing.com/-strse-template/JMorganBio/Page.bok

BARBARA SCOTT:
http://stores.desertbreezepublishing.com/-strse-template/BarbaraScottBio/Page.bok

CAINA FULLER:
http://stores.desertbreezepublishing.com/-strse-template/CainaFuller/Page.bok

DANIELLE THORNE: DEATH CHEATER:
http://stores.desertbreezepublishing.com/-strse-259/Death-Cheater-Danielle-Thorne/Detail.bok

JANET BUTLER:
http://stores.desertbreezepublishing.com/-strse-template/JanetButler/Page.bok

Tomorrow: Travel to Hungary and meet the wolves of the Budapest Moon Series

Paranormal Week - Influences in Paranormal Writing

Who are J. Morgan's influences in paranormal writing?

JMO: I grew up on reruns of Dark Shadows -- the grandfather of all modern paranormal goodness. Sure, it was cheesy and as low budget as you can get, but to an impressionable kid of 7 or so, it was the coolest thing in the world! Vampires, werewolves and the hottest witch to ever live. Angelique, how I love thee to this day. That show was my first taste of the paranormal. Let's not forget Scooby Doo. What kid didn't sit there wanting to be Shaggy and hanging with Scooby? If anything, those two shows are directly responsible for my love of paranormal and if you've read one of my books you can see their influence on my writing. Somewhere around 1985, after a long love affair with Stephen King, I discovered Anne Rice. Interview with a Vampire was okay, but the second I started The Vampire Lestat, I wanted to be a vampire instead of chasing them down and staking 'em but good. From there, I dabbled with other authors but was never satisfied. Until I read the most amazing book of all time, Sunglasses after Dark. It was written by a true visionary, Nancy A. Collins. Collins-Barnabas: Collins-Dark Shadows. A connect? Probably not, but my love of Vampires had come semi-full circle.

Let's fast forward a few years. I snagged a book off my wife's bedside table. Night Play by Sherrilyn Kenyon. I'd fallen out of reading romance for a few years, but this book dragged me back kicking and screaming. Then another foray to the wife's side of the bed yielded Derik's Bane by Maryjanice Davidson. Werwolves could be funny? Who knew? Undead and Unemployed fell into my greedy hands next. Vampires could be funny? Who knew? Well, I did now!

Needless to say, I had just discovered what I wanted to do for the rest of my life. I wanted to be a funny Scooby Doo romance writer! And, here we are 4 years later and closer to making that dream come true.

Who are Stephanie Burkhart's influences in paranormal writing?

STEPH: Some of my early influences include Anne Rice and Victoria Holt. More recent influences include JK Rowling and Elizabeth Kostova. Heck, now that I think about it, only Holt wrote romance.



Once Creature Double Feature went off the air I took to books and discovered Victoria Holt. She didn't write about vampires and wolves, but she did write gothic romance and paranormal romance has it's roots in the gothic. Here's all too true confession: My love or romance has deep roots with Holt. I feel in love with her settings, her themes, and I loved her style. She was so easy to read. I wanted to write like that. My Gothic Heroine, Ms. Holt, wrote in the 1960's, 1970's and 1980's, passing away, I believe in 1993. She left behind a legacy of work and even now I wouldn't hesitate to pick up a story by her.

Let's face it – you can't get creepier than Anne Rice. When I think Goth, I think Rice. I love her vamps and witches. Why? Because they are so deliciously human. I love how Rice creates mythology. Very creative. My desire to create my own myths and legends come from her.

JK Rowling is the bomb. Her style is easy to read and she created a wonderful paranormal world with witches, wolves, and eerie creatures of the night like Voldemort.

Elizabeth Kostova wrote a book called "The Historian." Based in historical fact, a historian goes on a chase through Eastern Europe looking for Dracula. I loved how seemingless Kostova wove fiction into fact. That's what I strive to do as well when I write.

Paranormal Week - The Attraction

What's J. Morgan's attraction to the paranormal?

JMO: I like being scared! No not really, but it has a certain appeal. I think all paranormal authors start out as scared kids with big imaginations. There's a ghost behind the chair that turns out to be a shirt. A boogieman under the bed. That one I still believe in. They're called mutated dust bunnies. I still have an unnatural fear of wood paneling. As a child, the swirlies looked like monsters to me. Don't ask. I'm sure there's a psychologist somewhere dying to get a peek under my hood. My point is my imagination has always liked to be scared. That fear turned into a need to make it palatable to my brain. Palatable being making it where I don't sleep with crucifixes under my pillow and stakes hanging next to the garlic on my bedpost. The only way I could see doing that, was to write it in such a way that I didn't jump at every shadow I saw. Just every other one.

So when you read one of my books, they're funny because that's the only way I can write them. Not because I like being funny, but because scary is something the real world is. Come on, just watch the evening news for five minutes and see if you don't agree with me. Paranormal romance isn't about those things. It's about a world of fantasy surrounding us that anything is possible inside of. Instead of orcs and elves, we make our heroes or heroines vampires, werewolves or any of the other bumpy things. I myself would like to see a vampire elf. Those might be cool.

What attracted me to write paranormal? The undeniable fact that inside those whispery walls of fantasy, I controlled the things that made me hide under the covers as a kid. What better form of therapy is there? Okay, probably lots but this is way cheaper and a whole lot more fun.



What's Stephanie Burkhart's attraction to the paranormal:

STEPH: I grew up being spooked every Saturday. My parents would watch a show called "Creature Double Feature." I must have been 6 or 7. Lon Chaney aka Wolfman and Bela Lagosi aka Dracula gave me a cheap scare. When I went to bed that Saturday night I heard noises under the bed (the booeyman aka mutated dust bunnies) and I scrunched up my blanket around my neck so Dracula couldn't bite it. –smile-


And let's not forget Godzilla. Okay, I'll save Godzilla for another time.

Creature Double Feature planted the seed. As I got older, my inner goth grew toward the darker side of literature, such as Victoria Holt (gothic romance) and Anne Rice. I devoured Rice's Interview with the Vampire and The Witching Hour.

What I liked about Rice's characters were they weren't perfect. They had flaws and struggles – just like little ol' human me. So I started to wonder – how cool would it be to be a vampire, werewolf, witch, ghost and to have very human problems?

The paranormal is just beyond our reach on the fringes of our imagination, yet myths such as vampires and werewolves have come down through history with us. What I find interesting is how they linger and how they challenge us to look at our own humanity.

You can find me sitting next to JMO in the dark corner while watching Salem's Lot and eating Oreos.

Welcome to Paranormal Week!

Desert Breeze is celebrating the paranormal this month and putting the spotlight on their paranormal authors: Tami Dee, J. Morgan and Stephanie Burkhart, so sit back with a pack of Oreos, a little tokaji, or some mead (for the Vikings) and enjoy!

An Overview of Paranormal Romance
By: Stephanie Burkhart

Paranormal romance is a popular romance sub-genre and has been for several years now. Currently, there is no decline in interest for it. What exactly is it? It blends the real with fantastic (supernatural) elements, which go beyond scientific explanation. Sounds like a mouthful, huh? (JMO take those Oreos out of your mouth!) –wink-

Supernatural elements include vampires, werewolves, zombies, ghosts, and witches.

Time travel also falls under the paranormal. (Steph & JMO suspiciously eyes Tami Dee) After all, time traveling goes beyond our current scientific ability to explain it. A time traveling romance can be tricky to reach a satisfying end since the hero and heroine are from different times, but Tami always has a trick or two up her sleeve.



Paranormal also encompasses more "human-like" abilities such as telekinesis, telepathy, and anything psychic. It's a broad genre, which I think is part of the appeal.

Paranormal allows the author to build new worlds and new rules. An author must be creative when crafting their story.

Some naysayers go, "Oh, there are too many vampires stories," but vampires sell. Their appeal? How they struggle with their morality, since they are creatures with little or no rules. Werewolves appeal to a paranormal audience because readers want to see how they deal with their rage. Can a werewolf retain a certain sense of humanity? As for Tami's Vikings they're just drop dead gorgeous.

While I don't have any recent stats, in 2007, paranormal romances were 11.8 % of romance sales. That will only grow.

FEEDBACK QUESTION: What about the genre appeals to you? Do you like to read time travel? Wolves? Vampires? Witches? Who are your favorite paranormal authors? JK Rowling counts. –grin- How about your favorite paranormal movies or tv series? Let me know.