Shadows of the Past
Carmen Stefabescu
Publisher: Wild Child Publishing
Genre: paranormal/light romance/light horror.
Amazon
Anne's relationship with her boyfriend Neil has disintegrated. After a two-year separation, they pack for a week vacation in hopes of reconciling. But fate has other plans for them.
The discovery of a bejeweled cross and ancient human bones opens a door to a new and frightening world--one where the ghost of a medieval nun named Genevieve will not let Anne rest. This new world threatens not only to ruin Anne and Neil's vacation but to end all hopes of reconciliation as Anne feels compelled to help free Genevieve's soul from its torment.
Can Anne save her relationship and help Genevieve find her eternal rest?
The twists and turns in this paranormal tale keep the reader guessing up to the end and weave themselves together into a quest to rekindle love.
Welcome, Carmen. Can you tell readers a little bit about yourself and what inspired to write in this particular genre?
Carmen Stefabescu
Publisher: Wild Child Publishing
Genre: paranormal/light romance/light horror.
Amazon
Anne's relationship with her boyfriend Neil has disintegrated. After a two-year separation, they pack for a week vacation in hopes of reconciling. But fate has other plans for them.
The discovery of a bejeweled cross and ancient human bones opens a door to a new and frightening world--one where the ghost of a medieval nun named Genevieve will not let Anne rest. This new world threatens not only to ruin Anne and Neil's vacation but to end all hopes of reconciliation as Anne feels compelled to help free Genevieve's soul from its torment.
Can Anne save her relationship and help Genevieve find her eternal rest?
The twists and turns in this paranormal tale keep the reader guessing up to the end and weave themselves together into a quest to rekindle love.
Welcome, Carmen. Can you tell readers a little bit about yourself and what inspired to write in this particular genre?
My
name is Carmen Stefanescu. I am a teacher of English and German, and lately an
author. I was born and live in Romania, the native country of the infamous
vampire Count Dracula, but where, for about 50 years of communist dictatorship,
just speaking about God, faith, reincarnation or paranormal phenomena could
have led someone to great trouble - the psychiatric hospital if not to prison.
I survived the grim years of oppression, by escaping in a parallel world, that
of the books.
I have dreamed all my life to become a writer, but many
of the things I wrote during those years remained just drawer projects. The
fall of the Ceausescu’s regime in 1989 and the opening of the country to the
world meant a new beginning for me. I started publishing. Poetry at first and
now prose, novels.
I am married, my
husband is a teacher too; we have two grown-up daughters, a grandson and
several cats.
What is it about the paranormal that
fascinates you so much?
Well, I've always been fond of reading and watching
everything linked to paranormal phenomena: books, documentaries, feature
movies, (Ghost with Demi Moore and Patrick Swayze being my favorite). I am
fascinated by and believe in reincarnation, past lives, ghosts and I think that
when our soul leaves the body it's not lost in the Universe. Could it only be my fear of
the eternity of death? I don't know. There must be something more beyond this
existence here.
So, naturally, I’m fond of paranormal stories. Both reading
and writing them. Not so much vampires,
but ghosts, reincarnation, karmic retribution. I believe that our soul is
immortal. I do believe in ghosts. I consider them to be wandering spirits who
can find no eternal rest, the same as Genevieve couldn't, because they haven’t
fulfilled their mission during their existence in flesh and blood on
earth.
The mystery genre appeals to me,
too, and I’ve just finished a paranormal
novel with elements of
mystery.
What inspired you to write this
book?
I came upon a
small article in a Romanian newspaper, some years ago, about a haunted mountain
in England. The souls of two sinners, a nun and a priest who broke their vows
and eloped, can’t find their rest. The tourists visiting that area sometimes
hear agonizing moans during the night. That was all. The moment I put down the
newspaper I felt that I had to write about them. This is how The Ballad of the Priest and the Nun
came to life, first. Later, I felt it was not enough. I felt Genevieve’s story
must be presented in detail. As if the nun herself pleaded with me to tell the
world about her fate. And thus I wrote Shadows
of the Past.
Please tell us about your latest
release.
"Shadows of the Past"
is, according to most reviewers, a truly gripping story about loss and grief,
mysteries that go back to Medieval Times and dark powers that push people to
commit unspeakable crimes. A story about
boundless love and the power of good magic, a haunting paranormal romance that spans the ages..
Can
Anne save her damaged relationship with her fiancée Neil and, at the same time,
help Genevieve her eternal rest?
It has reached 18 Amazon 5 star reviews,
17 Amazon 4 star reviews.
Is there a character that you enjoyed writing more than any of the
others?
I liked
writing the whole story, but as you ask this, I think that writing about
Genevieve was my favorite part. I have an attraction for tragically evolving
characters. I remember waking up in the morning with new ideas buzzing in my
mind regarding this heart-rending character.
Did you find anything really
interesting while researching this or another book?
Two of my characters
are Wicca and I did a thorough research regarding Wicca beliefs, traditions,
meaning. I learned a lot of interesting, thought provoking things about Wiccan
people. An interesting thing anyway, be it fate or not, the submission editor
at Wild Child Publishing, the one who accepted my manuscript was a Wiccan. And
now, among the friendly ladies who read my novel and even hosted me on a tour is
another one.
I strongly believe in the freedom of other people's beliefs
and as long as they harm no one, I respect them. "An Ye Harm None, Do What
Ye Will" as the Wicca will say.
Do any of your characters have
similar characteristics of yourself in them and what are they?
Many of my
female characters have something from me. They impersonate my feelings,
thoughts. Sometimes actions. It depends.
Do you have any weird writing
quirks or rituals?
I
like to have everything handy: paper, pencils, markers, ballpoint pens. And
some background, low playing music, either classical or pop.
My
first drafts are longhand. Only after I finish the manuscript I transfer
everything on my PC. I find it easier to make notes on the back of the sheet of
paper regarding characters, inclusions, changes
What are your guilty pleasures in
life?
Drinking
endless cups of coffee, and playing
computer games – role play games and strategy games.
What can readers expect next from
you?
I
already signed the contract with the same publisher, Wild Child Publishing,
USA, for my next novel, a paranormal historical. Dracula’s Mistress; obvious
Dracula as I’m a native of his country,
Romania. However this version goes against the grain. You’ll have to read it to
find out more.
A
third novel is in the beta readers stage. A paranormal mystery.
Where can readers find you on the
web?
Author, Carmen Stefanescu's Site:
Twitter @Carmen_Books
Would you like to leave readers with a little
teaser or excerpt from the book?
Gladly! My pleasure.
* * * *
Tears welled in Anne's eyes, blurring
her vision. She couldn’t explain them, or the sudden sadness seeping into her
heart. This should’ve been a moment of happiness or, at least, contentment. She
was with Neil again, and the outcome of their trip together should, very
likely, bring their reconciliation. Why then did she seem detached from where
she stood?
Anne
shivered. Why the deep feeling of having seen this place, this forest before?
And why the eerie sensation of being present here only in the body, while her
mind was far away?
Away
from the forest. Away from Neil, the man
who'd betrayed her trust and her love.
An onrush of sensations unfamiliar
to her followed. Dizziness and a malevolent feeling of unreality suffocated
her.
Anne
edged cautiously closer to the rim of the bare cliff. Her foot tapped the edge.
It seemed solid. She stared into the darkness of the abyss at her feet. It
echoed the shadows in her heart. An
unusual curiosity took hold of her. Should she step ahead? What was down there?
Other human bones? Another mystery? The presence of evil, creeping up and
enveloping her, became almost palpable. The vines of fog folded around her,
dragging her to the depth. Her throat turned dry, and she gasped for air.
Megan's face contorted, the voice no
longer pleasant. A hoarse gurgle, spluttering distorted words, "Yes,
come... I'm waiting... I've been waiting for you for such a long time..."
* * * *
Thank you for hosting me today! It
was a real pleasure. And for your followers and readers a last piece of advice:
Get quickly Shadows of the Past and read it! Otherwise, you don't know what you
are missing! Ha-ha-ha!
2 comments:
Thank you for hosting me!
Best regards from Dracula's country!
Carmen
Love this author and thank you for featuring her. Can't wait for her next book.
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