Some women attract men, some attract riches, and some attract trouble. I, on the other hand, seem to attract ghosts.
When I was a little kid my Jitney bus driver (yes I rode the short bus) departed this earth and came to me in the middle of the night to tell me that she wouldn't be able to take me to school anymore. Imagine my mother's surprise when I told her about this visit and five minutes later the phone rings with the official news from the school that Mrs. Hill had passed away in her sleep.
All of my life I have seen heard and felt things that had me thinking either I was concussed or perhaps in some way I had a gift. I'm not talking about The Ghost Whisperer where Melinda carries on conversations with full body apparitions. I'm talking more like in the moments of my darkest despair; I feel a gentle hand on my shoulder, I hear a giggle when I do something stupid or amusing,
What inspired you to write this book?
I wondered about the agitated souls that I've come across. Did they leave behind some unresolved issue, did they depart during an argument or perhaps didn't get the chance to confess their love. All these scenarios had my imagination going wild.
That's how the idea for Trudy Hicks Ghost Hunter came to life. The opportunity to write a compelling story about ghosts and to recognize these chaotic spirits were really just people with problems, big problems.
Please tell us about your latest release.
After a near death experience, Trudy has concluded that solving cases involving the paranormal might be just as dangerous as being a cop.
In case Two –The Kept , she and Jason go to an oceanfront Inn on the Jersey Shore - where a young opera singer resided until she disappeared in June 1919. While researching, the team uncovers evidence of a white slave trafficking ring that points to the ghostly residents still in attendance.
Meanwhile, Trudy and Jason’s relationship gets tested as Trudy finds herself tangling with Demons and any other dark specter that wants a piece of her. But it’s a bar fight where she is protecting her team-Is what pushes Jason over the edge and has an FBI pal do an investigation into Trudy’s dark and very private past-When Trudy finds out... all hell breaks loose.
As the team races discover what happened to Johanna but also where the girls were abducted and kept, the spirits become even more violent.
Trudy, while keeping her focus on the case, must decide to either walk away from Jason and his dirty deed or do what she does best-fight to the bitter end for the people she loves.
Is there a character that you enjoyed writing more than any of the others?
I love writing Trudy’s character. She is me, and so many of my friends, wrapped up into one powerhouse package. Of course we all think we are tough (we’re not) but she is. I’m a people watcher and my day job is car sales. I really pay attention to people and honestly at least once a day someone says something or I think Oh this mannerism is perfect for so and so’s character.
Do you have a formula for developing characters? Like do you create a character sketch or list of attributes before you start writing or do you just let the character develop as you write?
First, I figure out their roll ,then I draw what I think they will look like. I’m a people watcher and my day job is car sales. I really pay attention to people and honestly at least once a day someone says something interesting, or I think Oh this mannerism is perfect for so and so’s character. That helps me develop them into the colorful individuals they are and it’s real. I needed a crime, and something that was prevalent in the early 1900’s was White Slave Trafficking. I ran across an ad that once hung in an Ice cream shop on the Jersy shore warning parents of blonde, blue eyed girls to be careful of foreign men speaking to them and abducting them.
What is your favorite scene from the book? Could you share a little bit of it, without spoilers of course?
Of course it’s the bar fight!
Jimmy rejoined them just as Jason’s cell phone rang over the clamor. He pulled away from Trudy, allowing his lips to brush her temple before answering a call from his daughter. He excused himself and walked out through the front door as a large group of bikers strolled in the back door.
“Did Dana take all your money?”
“Every last cent.” Jimmy grinned, lifting a bottle of beer to his mouth and downing it in one long draw.
“She’s good.” He wiped his mouth with his sleeve. “You should have warned me that she…”Trudy glanced up at him when he paused and noticed his eyes widen as he looked at something over her shoulder.
“Shit!” He stood and puffed his chest out a bit as he stepped past her. “Stay here. It looks like we got some trouble.”
Trudy turned just in time to witness a giant fist landing on Patrick’s nose.
She rolled her eyes to the heavens. “Damn it.” Trudy leaped out of her seat while watching as Leslie tried to stop the big biker from landing another punch on Patrick’s person. Trudy wasn’t at all surprised this fight started over a political difference of opinion. She heard the biker yell something about “Benghazi!”
The big man turned toward Leslie, who had been pummeling him on the back furiously but not causing any damage. She attempted to throw a punch to his jaw, but those damn shoes she wore had her spinning off balance. She fell hard and face first onto the corner of the pool table,“That’s gonna leave a mark.” Trudy winced, grabbing a pool stick from the rack on the wall as she passed.
The biker’s attention was now on Jimmy, who rammed into his midsection with absolutely no impact. The big man let out a bark of laughter as he backhanded Jimmy, knocking him clean across the small space to land on a table full of rowdy patrons.
Trudy scanned her surroundings, sidestepping a few drunken hecklers, and continued toward the giant, holding the cue stick and testing its weight.
Patrick looked dazed, the girls were hiding under the pool table, and Jimmy was now in another fight with one of the men he landed on.
The big biker turned back to Patrick with the clear intent of ripping the red, white, and blue I’m With Her t-shirt off his body. Hearing fabric tear, she approached as Patrick let out a blood-curdling scream, Trudy struck deftly with the cue stick.
She was precise and deadly accurate as she took down the giant. He didn’t make a sound before landing hard next to the jukebox.
She quickly squatted down before Patrick, who was profusely bleeding from his nose.
“I can’t believe you wore that damn t-shirt to a biker bar!” Trudy brushed his soft brown hair back from his forehead and took off her hoodie to stop the flow of blood.
“I’m sorry, Trudy. I forgot I had it on.” He let out a low moan and covered his nose with the fabric.
“I just took off my jacket to play pool, and within seconds, fat boy attacked me.” He looked over at the motionless biker. “Is he dead?” Patrick tried to sit up, but a dizzy spell forced him back to the floor.
“No, he’s—”
“You bitch!” The screech came from over her left shoulder.
Trudy stood just as the screamer landed on her back. “Stay put,” she hissed at Patrick, who once again tried to rise.
“Trudy!”
The attacker wrapped her skinny but surprisingly strong arms around Trudy’s neck.
“Git her, Jenny!” a toothless man wearing a white sleeveless muscle shirt and a Dale Earnhardt, Jr. ball cap shouted from Trudy’s right as she backed into the nearest wall, knocking the hellion off her.
Spinning around to face her, poor Jenny didn’t have a chance. Trudy warned her that she was trained to fight and that her hands were considered lethal. The crazy bitch rushed her anyway. Trudy landed a quick punch that knocked Jenny over a table full of drinks and on her ass.
“Hey!”
The toothless man came at her, putting his hands on her shoulders as she turned toward him. She grabbed at his upper arms as she gave him a long knee to the groin. He bent over, and she landed a front thrust kick which dropped him down to the floor next to Jenny, who was sobbing uncontrollably over a broken nose.
Trudy stepped back, noticing Jimmy looked as if he was in a bit of trouble as fights were now breaking out all over the bar. She peered underneath the pool table to where Dana was eating an order of french fries while Leslie held a glass of ice to her rapidly swelling eye.
“Get Patrick and go out the back door.”
Standing, she grabbed another pool stick that had been abandoned on the table, ignoring Leslie’s shout and dashing toward Jimmy, who was trying with all his might not to be choked to death. Trudy landed a blow on the back of his attacker that dropped the man to his knees, breaking the cue stick in half. Jimmy finished him with a fist to his eye.
The duo looked down at their handiwork and nodded to each other,“Let’s get out of here!”
Did you find anything really interesting while researching this or another book?
I needed a crime, and something that was prevalent in the early 1900’s was White Slave Trafficking. It was a real problem especially along the shore, I ran across an ad that once hung in an Ice cream shop in New Jersey, warning parents of blonde, blue eyed girls to be careful of foreign men speaking to them and abducting them. The government made it illegal and passed the Mann Act (White- Slave Traffic Act of 1910) where it would be illegal to abduct women or girls for prostitution or debauchery. The charge was a Felony…
Well, you know I had to run with that one. Each book in the series has its own story within the story and mystery to be solved. But, honestly if you don’t start at the beginning, you will not get the pleasure of experiencing how Trudy and Jason story evolves.
What is the most interesting thing you have physically done for book related research purposes?
Well if Interacting with ghosts isn’t interesting enough…
With the book being part of a series, are there any character or story arcs, that readers jumping in somewhere other than the first book, need to be aware of? Can these books be read as stand alones?
Each book in the series has its own story within the story and mystery to be solved. But, honestly if you don’t start at the beginning, you will not get the pleasure of experiencing how Trudy and Jason love story evolves. For that very reason, I recommend reading it as a series.
Do you have any weird writing quirks or rituals?
The weirdest part of my writing is that do most of it in the notes section of my phone. I write in car, appointments, work, wherever I can squeeze it in. I am outlining a Mystery that involves the dark web
Do you write in different genres?
I am outlining a Mystery that involves the dark web. I also contribute to The Axoran Tales on Instagram as a fantasy writer. Down the road I see more paranormal and a romance or two.
Do you find it difficult to write in multiple genres?
No, I love it. I’m hitting my stride as a writer and I want to flex my muscles. Case Three-The Hex, introducing Witches and magic, How awesome is that?
What are your guilty pleasures in life?
Rare afternoon naps with my dogs, Jaxson and Stewie.
What can readers expect next from you?
Case Three-The Hex, introducing Witches and magic, How awesome is that?
Would you like to leave readers with a little teaser or excerpt from the book?
“Jason, you don’t trust me.” Gazing into his eyes, she took off her gloves and tossed them into a nearby bin.
“Trudy, I didn’t understand you, but I do now,” he said passionately.
When she went to turn away, he grabbed her hand and placed it on his chest.
“Baby, I trust you more than anyone, with my life, my love.” He glanced down at her hand that remained pressed against his beating heart then looked deeply into her eyes, “I can’t explain away what I did, but please hear me when I say I did it because I was scared shitless.”
He covered her hand with his, and she saw something flicker in his eyes.
“You see, I’ve never felt like this before. Trudy, I love—”
“Shhh.” She used her other hand to press her fingers against his lips. Her body was trembling now as all the anger drained from her. She shook her head, her voice barely a whisper. “Jason, I can’t talk about this anymore.” She released a long breath before continuing, “And I really don’t know what to do about it.”
“Let me help…” He started, but she hushed him again.
“You tossed the deck into the air, so let the cards fall where they may.”
Trudy Hicks Ghost Hunter
Case Two-The Kept
Lori Zaremba
Genre: Paranormal Mystery
Publisher: Limitless Publishing
Date of Publication: 5/28/2019
ISBN-13: 978-1-64034-596-6
ISBN-10: 1-64034-596-5
ASIN: B07RWMGKR2
Number of pages:248
Word Count: 7850
Tagline: Secrets of the past are about to turn deadly.
ISBN-10: 1-64034-596-5
ASIN: B07RWMGKR2
Number of pages:248
Word Count: 7850
Tagline: Secrets of the past are about to turn deadly.
Book Description
If anyone tells you hunting ghosts is less dangerous than chasing down real-life criminals, they’re wrong. Very, very wrong.
Case two takes us to a New Jersey Shore Inn. A beautiful, yet dead opera singer seems to be begging for help, but her pleas do nothing but terrorize the locals.
While trying to decipher the clues to her 1919 disappearance, uncovering hair-raising horrors, it becomes clear that Jason and I no longer see eye-to-eye.
Jason wants me to stop meddling with the supernatural. He wants me to stop risking my life by interacting with demons and spirits.
What he doesn’t understand is this is my life. These tortured souls need my help in order to move on. How do I walk away from that—from them?
But the better question is—how do I walk away from him?
Trudy Hicks Ghost Hunter Case One- The Deceit
Lori Zaremba is a full-time Internet Sales Manager and writes Web Content as well as providing Copy Editing for businesses in the Greater Pittsburgh Area. Lori has published short ghost stories on Your Ghost Stories, as the Haunted_Cleaner and on her website lorizaremba.com
On her website, lorizaremba.com, Zaremba refers to herself as the ghost magnet and briefly describes her encounters with departing spirits.
Lori began writing her fiction story as a creative offering of why a ghost would haunt. Before long the story became a novel Case One: The Deceit in the Trudy Hicks Ghost Hunter series.
Lori currently lives in the suburbs of Pittsburgh with her husband Wayne and two fur babies Jaxson and Stewie.
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