Saturday, March 19, 2011

Guest Blog and Giveaway with P.L. Parker


Each of us has had our brush with the paranormal. Whether it be ESP, pre-cog, or ghosts, we all experience something—sometime. . .

The two story Victorian house stood in the center of lush green and gold fields in the heart of farming country. Care had been taken with the home’s renovation and the graceful lines, cornices and wrap-around porch were as fresh as the day when it had been first constructed, the classical lines and beauty a testament to the architecture of bygone days. An aura of mystery surrounded the old edifice, drawing passing strangers to stop and stare, moved by the richness of the pastoral scene.

I stepped in, standing at the doorway, allowing my eyes to adjust. I drew in a deep breath and let it out, marveling with delight. The interior was an antique collector’s dream—oak or maple wood furnishings, oil paintings and tintypes on the half-paneled walls. Throw rugs covered the solid oak floors gleaming from years of polishing by loving hands. It was as though I’d stepped back into another century. But something gave me pause. I suffered a moment of anxiety…tensing.

The scent of cooking wafted on the summer breeze. My stomach rumbled.

My host threw open her arms in welcome, chattering with excitement. “You have to take a tour of the house before we eat,” she exclaimed. “We just finished the upper floor and it’s almost all complete.”

I nodded, anticipation and the promise of food caused my mouth to water. We strolled through the lower level, the sun room, the sitting room, dining area and kitchen. Perfectly preserved as it had once been—but my nerves tingled.

She started up the staircase. “Hold on. It’s kind of steep and I don’t want you to fall.”

The staircase opened into a long hallway graced by oaken doors positioned in various places along the way leading out to an upper veranda. We meandered along, stopping to admire the wallpaper, the wall hangings, wood carvings, and the oak paneling before stepping out onto the deck. The view was fantastic. Farmland stretched into the distance tucked beneath hills and mountains towering to the azure skyline. Too beautiful for mere description.

“I’m starving,” she said. “I hope you’re hungry.”

She was a good cook and conversation was fast and furious. Our friendship was new and we hadn’t had the opportunity to visit very often, but we found numerous topics to discuss.
A grating noise caught my attention. I tilted my head, listening. Overhead, a door could be heard to open, steps walked along the upper hallway, another door opened and then closed. The hair rose on the back of my neck.

“Is someone here?” I asked, perplexed. I hadn’t seen anyone but her since I arrived.

“No, but don’t worry,” she grinned, a mischievous twist of her lips. “That’s our resident ghost.”
I shifted, suddenly uncomfortable. “Ghost?”

“Yeah,” she laughed. “He opens doors and leaves things around, but mostly he walks out onto the upper deck.” Blue eyes glazed over as she considered. “I think whoever it is died here and he’s looking for his lost love.” She shrugged. “Makes a good story. He doesn’t scare us anymore. Just walks around.”

Goose bumps rose on my arms. I shivered, unnerved.

“Do you want to see something really weird?” She jumped from her seat and motioned for me to follow.

Really weird? I’m not so sure. I’m not what you’d call an adventurous person and things like ghosts, witches and things that go bump in the night scare me. I believe! But I was an invited guest…

She led me up the stairs to the second floor and into her bedroom. She opened a window and leaned out. “See that round window out there?”

Dusk had settled over the panorama. Night would seen be here.

I leaned out, nodding as I located the object. About the size of a ship’s porthole like many old houses have.

She climbed out the window reaching for my hand. “Be really careful,” she cautioned. “It’s very steep out here.”

She wanted me to climb out on the roof! I don’t think so.

“Come on,” she urged. “It’s worth it.”

I inhaled, praying for courage. I climbed out, choking on terror. Vertigo seized me in its hideous clutches. Spots danced in front of my eyes. I felt faint.

She wrapped an arm around my hips. “Sit down and scoot along the roof.”

I slid down, thanking God for the brief moment of deliverance. I scooted as she instructed.

Slivers embedded themselves in my posterior, but anything was better than standing up. I reached the window.

She pushed me forward. “What do you see?”

I looked in. My eyes adjusted to the dark interior. The room might have once been a walk-in closet or perhaps a dressing room attached to the main suite. But no door opened from any wall. It was a closed room.

“What do you see?” she asked again.

I cupped my hands around my eyes to see better—shock held me motionless.

“What do you see?” She giggled, knowing what my answer would be.

“There’s a long wood box sitting on what looks like old sawhorses or something.”

I looked to her for confirmation. “It looks like an old wooden casket.”

Her eyes popped with excitement. “The ghost who walks comes out of that room, even though there’s no door. It’s been plastered over. We think it’s his body in there.” Her voice hushed.

“Maybe he was murdered and put in there by whoever did it.”

“So why don’t you bust the wall down and get rid of it?” Made sense to me. I wouldn’t live in a house with a dang coffin in it!

“We kind of like the not knowing. The notoriety. You know what I mean?”

“No,” I snapped. “I don’t know what you mean. I think it’s really creepy and I wouldn’t live here if you paid me.” Ghosts and people, at least for me, isn’t a good mix.

We crawled back inside and into the hallway. My eyes were drawn to the area where the coffin was housed. Nothing there to give any indication as to what lurked beyond.

Cold air swirled, brushing us with its chilling fingers.

“He’s coming out again,” she whispered, eyeing the wall.

My knees grew weak, my imagination rampaged. I had no desire whatsoever to see the specter. I ran from the house shaking in my shoes.

We moved from that area shortly after and I lost contact with my new friend. I often wonder if they left the casket as is or if they finally tore down the wall and found out what was in there. I’ll never know. I never went back to that house.




Absolution
by P.L. Parker
eBook ISBN: 9781615723164


Price:
Genre: Paranormal
Sub Genre: Paranormal
Novel of 94640 words
Heat rating: 3
Edited by Alison O'Byrne
Cover Artwork by Dawné Dominique
Print ISBN: 9781615723171

About the book:
For years, travelers in the French Vosges Mountains heard the wailing of a woman echo in the hollows. Her cries went unbidden. No one was brave enough to seek out the source. Over time, the screams lessen, then stop. Eventually, even the memories slipped away, forgotten.

Six centuries later, two over-eager research assistants find and release the young half vampire, Chloe—unaware of events they unwittingly unleash with her.

Far away, other forces are aware of her awakening. Zaccarius, greatest of all the Slayers, is sent by the Council of Nine to seek out Chloe, determine her worth and render justice. Enticed by her purity and innocence, he becomes her protector. However, Jochad, the Dark Master and his army of evil vampires are eager to claim Chloe.

In the battle that ensues, Zaccarius falls beneath Jochad’s army. To save her lover, Chloe must make a choice. Ancient and dying, Jochad needs her blood to reanimate. His ultimatum—her blood or Zaccarius’ life.


Would you like to win an ecopy of Absolution?

One lucky reader will win

To enter leave a comment on this post

Winner TBA Next Wednesday


37 comments:

P.L. Parker said...

Good Morning Everyone - and thank you Rhonda for hosting me today. Looks terrific.

AJ Nuest said...

Ooooo, P.L. that was an awesome story. Rumor has it, a house just down the road from us is haunted by the uncle who used to own all the farmland in that area. Evidently, he's not too happy his beloved farm was parceled into a subdivision. My niece babysat there years ago, and half-way into the evening called the owners and asked them to return. She said there were too many unexplained noises, objects moving, bumps in the night, and that she would never return. Ghost Hunters (from tv) visited last year, but I never saw the episode. I don't drive past that area on my way into town anymore...too creepy.

Skhye said...

Nice excerpt, Patsy!!! ;) Sounds like an awesome read.

P.L. Parker said...

Creepy AJ - I'm not into haunted houses - tease my husband that I want to stay at a haunted hotel - but not really.

P.L. Parker said...

Thanks for stopping by, Skhye.

booklover0226 said...

Absolution sounds great; I just added it to my Amazon wishlist.

Thanks,
Tracey D
booklover0226 at gmail dot com

P.L. Parker said...

Thanks for stopping by Tracy D!

Andrea said...

Absolution sounds like a very interesting book.

lillieblue613(at)gmail(dot)com

P.L. Parker said...

Thanks Andrea - I really had a good time writing this one. The research into the 1382 - 1430 time frame was fascinating.

Cara Marsi said...

What a story, Patsy. No way would I keep that coffin in my house. I do believe spirits are around us. Several of my friends have reported seeing ghosts in old houses.

Mary Ricksen said...

I am a scaredy cat too!
One time I was crying and talking to my beloved passed on grandmother.
I felt a hand on my shoulder and looked to see the imprint of a hand. Each finger was identifiable. I almost had heart failure!
So here's to you fellow chicken!

Karen Michelle Nutt said...

Patsy,


My friends and I like to take ghost tours, but this is a little too creepy for me.

What story! I agree with you. I would never keep a coffin sealed up in a room. The wall would come down and the coffin removed "pronto!

Your books sounds fantastic! I wish you much success. :)

Meredith said...

Looks interesting! Loved the excerpt!

meredithfl at gmail dot com

P.L. Parker said...

Thanks Cara, Mary, Karen and Meredith and for sharing your stories. I'm with you Mary, YIKES!
Appreciate you stopping by.

RFTC Blog said...

Wow, this sounds great. Definitely going to want to read this.

iqb99@yahoo.com

Estella said...

Creepy! I don't think I'd like to go into a haunted house.

P.L. Parker said...

Thanks for stopping by Danielle and Estella. I would never have gone there had I'd known it was haunted. As I said, I'm not that adventurous. My "adventures" are in books. LOL

Jadette Paige said...

Oh, my! Now I have goosebumps. That was awesome. Wishing you the best with this new release, love!

AKA
Judith Leger

P.L. Parker said...

Thank you Judith. Believe me, I got goosebumps when I was there. Still gives me shivers to think about it.

Sherry said...

I loved your story and there's no way I would stay in a haunted house. I'm to big of a chicken. Your book sounds really good.

sstrode@scrtc.com

Debby said...

Hi, it has been a while since Iread a book by you. This looks like a must read.
debby236 at gmail dot com

P.L. Parker said...

Thanks Sherry and Debby for stopping by. Absolution was definitely a step out of my comfort zone. To date, I've written time travel so this was a change. I am expanding, I just finished the first draft of a SciFi romance.

Unknown said...

Please enter me in contest. I would love to read this book. It sounds very good. Tore923@aol.com

P.L. Parker said...

Thanks for stopping by Tore!

P.L. Parker said...

One last quick post to thank Rhonda for hosting me. Love the blog site!

Tanya1224 said...

That was definitely a good teaser. I'd like to win this...please count me in.
Tanyaw1224(at)yahoo(dot)com

Joanna Aislinn said...

I'd be creeped-out too--but fascinated. Have to say, your writing is excellent--kept telling myself I'd catch up later--I'm supposed to be writing a report--but really got pulled in by your prose, PL :)

Joanna Aislinn
Dream. Believe. Strive. Achieve!
NO MATTER WHY
The Wild Rose Press
www.joannaaislinn.com
www.joannaaislinn.wordpress.com

Cate Masters said...

What a great story Patsy! I'd love to visit that house. :) Poor ghost. He sounds lonely.
Congrats on your release! Love the excerpt.

Amanda Bonilla said...

I love haunted house stories! My daughter insists that her apartment is haunted. I don't visit much. LOL

P.L. Parker said...

Hi Tanya, Joanna, Cate and Amanda -thanks so much for stopping by and leaving a comment. Appreciate you taking the time.

Mary Vine said...

Wow, what an experience!! Wish I'd been there. Well, maybe not walking on the roof...
Was this in Idaho?

Leni said...

I can already get a picture from what I've read. Looks like a good one to sit down and enjoy.

lenikaye@yahoo.com

Amy said...

Sounds great! I love dark stories like this one.

angeldream3[at]gmail[dot]com

Jen B. said...

I think you are correct that everyone has been touched in some way by the paranormal. I know I had a couple of pre-cog moments when I was younger. I would love to win this book. It sounds exciting.

Linda LaRoque said...

I loved the story about the house with the ghost. I want to know what happens next.

I'd like to visit a haunted house or hotel, even had planned to stay at one while touring Route 66 but it never panned out. Hubby wasn't really interested. Of course I might have changed my mind if I saw something.

Best of luck with your new release. I look forward to reading it.

P.L. Parker said...

Thanks Mary, Amy, Leni, Jenn B. and Linda L. for stopping by. I had a friend once who rented a basement apartment and kept hearing sawing. Found out that the owner's father did the remodel on the apartments and he worked in the basement and died of a heart attack down there.

Yes, this haunted house is in Idaho, near Fruitland.

Rosie said...

Oh my gosh, this sounds like a great book. It's definitely been added to my TBR list!!!

rosie0512 @ hotmail . com

 
BLOG DESIGN FOR FANG-TASTIC BOOKS BY BARBARA.
RED CORSET © HALAQUINN ARCADIAS. GOTHIC NIGHT © ASHEN SHARROW.