Recipe For A Delicious Military Alpha Hero

Posted on by Selena Robins

Please welcome, multi-published DENISE AGNEW author of an eclectic array of steamy romance authors as she chats about alpha male hero’s in romance novels and gives us a peek into the upcoming boxed set: Romancing The Military Man: Ten Hot Military Heroes

 

 

Romancing The Military Man: Ten Hot Military Heroes & A Recipe For An Alpha Hero

by Denise A. Agnew

Alpha.

Oxford Dictionary definition informal: Denoting a person who has a dominant role or position within a particular sphere.

Alpha Male.

Oxford Dictionary definition: A man tending to assume a dominant or domineering role in social or professional situations. (This particular dictionary gave an example of a use of the word as, “Most alpha males need to control the women in their lives.”)

As an author who often writes heroes in careers that tend to lean toward “alpha” that definition of alpha male made me think. After all, the last kind of hero I’m going to create is a man who feels he needs to “control” a woman. That’s a nope, nope, nope for me unless I’m talking about the bad guy.

I started thinking about the hero in my story Saved By The Marine, which is a part of Romancing The Military Man: Ten Hot Military Heroes. Retired U.S. Marine Mike Compton isn’t a spring chicken at thirty-nine but he’s still a physically fit and capable man with aspirations to become a sheriff’s deputy in his community and continue protecting others. As I wrote the story I noticed that his beta tendencies were as heavy-duty as his alpha traits, and when I analyzed that reality it made me recognize that my heroes are always a combination of the two balancing attributes.

When I asked nine other authors to join with me in putting together a box set featuring ten military heroes, I never thought of defining a military hero as alpha…or not. In the romance novel world, however, alpha seems to have a particular connotation that can be taken either as good or bad. I’m keeping it positive and listing what I believe is a great recipe for an amazing alpha hero like the ones you’ll find in Romancing The Military Man: Ten Hot Military Heroes which features stories from New York Times, USA Today and National Best Selling authors Sharon Hamilton, Caridad Pineiro, Toni Anderson, Karen Fenech, Kathy Kulig, Jan Springer, Lisa Hughey, Adrienne Bell, Monique Dubois and myself.

Ready? Aim. Here we go.

 

Recipe For A Delicious Military Alpha Hero

 

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Ingredients:

*One male age 25 to 50 (more or less to taste).

*Physical and mental strength.

*An animal magnetism that goes beyond good looks.

*Copious amounts of an excellent sense of humor and/or a brooding and slightly less effusive way of dealing with the world.

*One or more intriguing or heady situations, preferably with danger, action, adventure and opportunities for said alpha male to show his skills.

*One occupation that involves hero in possible mayhem.

*One consuming desire to protect the heroine and others against any danger.

*A solid belief in doing the right thing, but an understanding that most of life comes in shades rather than black and white.

*A healthy chunk of can do attitude. This guy never gives up, unless it’s eventually giving in to falling in love.

*He’d never harm a woman or child and won’t tolerate anyone who does.

*He’s never verbally abusive to a woman or child and won’t tolerate anyone who is.

Directions:

Mix all these ingredients in varying amounts and combinations along with liberal doses of originality and you have the makings for a balanced military alpha male. Enjoy!

 

 

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Romancing The Military Man: Ten Hot Military Heroes is on preorder now at:

Amazon

Barnes and Noble

iBooks

You can also check Denise’s website for additional book outlets as they become available.

Official release date is September 29, but you can get your pre-order copy for 99 cents.

If you’d like an opportunity to win a Kindle Fire be sure to sign up for our release day Facebook party.

About Denise Agnew:

Denise A. Agnew is the author of over 60 novels. Denise has written paranormal, romantic comedy, contemporary, fantasy, historical, erotic romance, and romantic suspense. Archaeology and archery have crept into her work, and travels through England, Ireland, Scotland, and Wales have added to a lifetime of story ideas. She lives with her husband and a Mini Schnauzer. Denise is also a paranormal investigator, Reiki Master and Certified Creativity Coach.

Denise Agnew Website

Creative Coaching Website

Follow Denise on Facebook

Follow Denise on Twitter @DeniseAAgnew

 

 

Live, love, dream.

Posted on by Selena Robins

Is the tag-line for the Creative Pen Coaching website where multi-published author and certified creativity coach Denise Agnew coaches creative people to not only create outside the box, she also assists writers who face writer’s block and other creativity challenges.

 

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Please welcome Denise Agnew as she answers a few questions that can be applied to any form of creativity, be it; writing, music, art, dancing or DIY crafts.

Selena: Is creativity something that can be taught?

Denise: I think everyone is creative, but many people believe they’re not for one reason or the other, or they’ve closed off their ability to create based on certain belief systems and experiences they may have had as a child. In any case, there are many different theories. My personal belief is there are certain people who have a drive to create that is stronger than others and that gives them the extra boost to pursue whatever creative endeavor most appeals to them. Regenerating creativity lost can be taught if the individual is willing.

Selena: What is something a creative person can say to themselves if they are feeling a resistance or anxiety about unleashing their creativity?

Denise: People are very individual. What will work varies from person to person. One trick people can try is to counter the lies their mind tells them about themselves and create a dialog.

Example: “People will hate what I create” and counter with “Some people will love what I create” or “People will love what I create.” They’re countering something they don’t know is true (could be an outright lie) and replacing it with a reasonable question/truth. Again, this isn’t the only method people might need to try. Usually people’s resistance to unleashing their creativity is complex and a coach will need to get in the weeds with the client to determine what’s really behind the resistance.

 

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Selena: Do you think creativity involves putting your heart and soul into a piece of creative work? Or is it a matter of letting one’s mind flow freely?

Denise: Certainly both! I do think there are projects that just fly out of the person creating them and they’re less exhausting than other projects. Every project/endeavor has its own personality and there will be different challenges with each. Some creators need an outline or plan in order for their creativity to flow while others find that too constraining and just need to let their minds flow freely.

Selena: As a creativity coach, what do you recommend writers and anyone who wants a creative outlet do to keep themselves motivated and interested in their projects?

Denise: Create for your satisfaction first. Too much time obsessing with what other people may or may not think of what you’re doing or looking for outside validation can strangle creativity and make it impossible to move forward with a project. Creating has to come from personal enjoyment and a willingness to appease your own creative drive first. Ask yourself what it is that you love about acting, painting, dancing, writing, etc.? That’s what matters. Create meaning from the inside out rather than relying on outside validation. Outside validation isn’t a guarantee.

 

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Selena: What is the best piece of advice you’ve been given with regard to creativity?

Denise: Get out of your own way. Create with self-satisfaction in mind and finding personal meaning within that creation.

Selena: What is the worse piece of advice you’ve been given with regard to creativity?

Denise: Create what the market wants.

Selena: Why did you decide to coach?

Denise: I felt that I have a somewhat unique approach to creativity and I wanted to assist people who are feeling trapped in their own creativity challenges.

 

“Creation is an act of faith. There’s no guarantee that anyone will appreciate, admire, read, watch, enjoy or otherwise note your work. There’s only the guarantee that you are creating and that it has meaning to you. Create with your satisfaction first and all other considerations second.”~Denise Agnew~

 

Denise A. Agnew, owner of Creative Pen Coaching based in Sierra Vista, Arizona, brings over twenty years in the publishing industry into her creativity coaching. Denise is the award-winning author of over sixty novels in a variety of sub-genres of romance including; historical, suspense, contemporary, fantasy, paranormal and erotic romance.

Denise has encountered many of the same challenges every creative individual has at one time or another, and this makes her uniquely qualified to understand creative barriers and how to escape them.

Utilizing her training, Denise helps individual excavate their way to the truth behind their creative challenges. She believes thinking outside the box assists creative people in finding new excitement, meaning, and fulfillment.

She offers a variety of coaching packages, group coaching and workshops for every level of creative experience and need.

For more information, please visit Denise’s website: Creative Pen Coaching.

“An artistic endeavor requires that we trust ourselves long enough to create. If we create with the attitude that it’s recess, not only is it fun but it may be a wonderful result. Trust in the fun.” ~Denise Agnew~

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Love Under Fire

Posted on by Selena Robins

Please join me in welcoming, Denise Agnew, multi-published and award winning author of an eclectic mixture of romances; contemporary, paranormal, suspense, and historical.

Denise joins me for a quick chat and we will be introducing you to Denise’s latest Trilogy, LOVE UNDER FIRE.

The Interview:

Selena: I know how much you enjoy Halloween, so thinking back what was your most memorable costume?

Denise: I always wanted to wear a witch costume. Always. BUT, I’d have to say when I was a kid I remember wearing a tiger costume one year. As an adult my most memorable costume was a French maid.

Selena: French maid, huh? I bet that launched a great time in the Agnew household, but I won’t ask you to expand since this is not a reality TV show where all private matters are exposed for the world to see. Speaking of reality TV, what’s your take on its popularity?

Denise: I think there are a few reality TV shows that aren’t bad if they are actual documentaries. When reality includes cruelty, snark, humiliation, and manufactured drama (which is what most of it is), then I don’t touch it with a ten foot poll. I don’t believe in censoring what’s on TV, but I also think if people are going to watch this stuff with their kids they ought to make it clear to the children that this is NOT the way to treat people and that cruelty and never-ending snark isn’t a good thing. I’ve seen a lot of that snarky attitude translate into social media/blogs and I have to admit I personally don’t care for it. It’s hard to say if it’s a chicken or the egg thing. Did people start becoming extraordinarily snarky and cruel because reality TV teaches children (and adults) that it is “okay” to be mean, or were people mean and the reality TV grew out of that. Obviously there are a lot of screwed up individuals out there both in reality TV and social media, and we’ve given them a bigger platform.

Selena: I agree with the mean-spirited type of reality shows and how that SHOWS impressionable children and teens that it’s cool and can even garner some kind of fame by being a bully and nasty. I wrote a blog about my disdain for shows like Toddlers and Tiara’s and Dance Moms. I think social media gives the bullies a larger platform, and it may have created some snark, from people who wouldn’t ordinarily be snarky, but find it easier to do since they can’t be seen. I think it’s more fun to play with fictional characters and give them a snarky attitude. 

Which brings me to my next question. If you could bring any of your characters to life and hang out with this character for the whole day, which one would you choose? What activity would you suggest you do with this character?

onelondonnight_200Denise: That’s a good question. Uh…um…uh….I have a lot of characters to remember. Probably the heroine in my novel One London Night. She’s from my parent’s era (WW2), and I feel her and I would have a lot in common, even though we’re from different time periods. We would tour London all day, I think.

Selena: When I asked you this question, my mind went to one of your hot military hero’s. *S* What draws you to write military heroes?

Denise: I’ve been surrounded by military people off and on through my whole life, so that’s part of it. Probably because of the patriotism, and the fact that these heroes can be both tough, tender, and protective at the same time. The mental toughness it can take to survive a military career, especially if you’ve been deployed to war zones, is a fascinating subject for me. Hey, my fascination goes on every day. My hubby was in the army for twenty years.

Selena: Speaking from personal experience and I know your husband is the same, a writer’s spouse is that extra lifeline we have and our best cheerleader, and with your husband having been in the military, I’m sure he provides invaluable research information. It’s evident in your military romances, they are authentic.

Choosing the heroine in One London Night is a good choice and touring London would be a great adventure, especially if you could travel back in time. If could put you in a time machine and get you back to your teen years, what advice would you give to an 18 year old Denise?

Denise:  That things will get better and that all that stuff that felt so important when we were teens isn’t important at all when you’re fifty. Well, it isn’t if you’ve matured and found some good balance and understanding in your life.

 Selena: Great advice and now for authors who would like to take on a trilogy, what do you think is the biggest challenge a writer faces when writing a trilogy?

Denise: Making sure each book is fresh, the plot is different in each story, and that the characters don’t sound too much alike. That being said, in this trilogy there were so many close ties that weaving all the bits and pieces together and keeping them straight was a huge challenge. Write a series and the same thing applies only ten fold. One of the reasons I don’t write a ton of series books is because it is twice as hard for me to engender enthusiasm in my own creativity when you’re dealing with some of the same characters and similar situations.

Selena: I would imagine it is difficult to have all the different couples maintain a different voice and even personalities. If one hero is comedic, then the writer needs to ensure the other hero doesn’t emulate the same type of humor. Quite a challenge. I love humor in books, movies, life in general and there are so many funny quotes out there in social media-land. Do you have a favorite quote that made you laugh out loud?

Denise: Oh my God. *LOL* That’s tough! I love Groucho Marx. Since we’re talking books, I’ll quote one of his:

“From the moment I picked up your book until I laid it down, I was convulsed with laughter. Some day I intend reading it.” 

Selena: *LOL* I like that one! Denise, thanks for joining me on the blog today. Sudden Heat and Under Fire are both available. Can you let the readers know what to expect in the final installment of the trilogy?

Denise: As a therapist Lena Williams has worked with damaged vets and never wants a relationship with one. So her lust at first sight with sexy Coast Guard Chief Petty Officer Rick Frasier is off the menu. Rick has never shied from danger or risk taking, but the overwhelming attraction he feels for Lena sends him into a tailspin. As they battle their feelings and escape a gunman intent on mayhem, they’ll find there’s a firestorm of desire inside them as furious and intense as any threat.

Selena: I really enjoyed all three and recommend the books to readers who love some suspense, heat, great sex scenes and hero’s who are trained to protect and serve.

Here are the book covers and blurbs and links for the first two books in the trilogy. Available at Amazon, Ellora’s Cave and other outlets where e-books are sold.

suddenheat_200Where do you yearn to be in the face of danger? In the arms of a man bound to serve, to protect and to love…

Librarian Melanie Falconer knows too well the horrors of war. Military men, as far as she’s concerned, are off the marriage menu. As maid of honor at her best friend’s wedding, she makes a mall run and lands straight into the arms of seriously hot marine Matt Frasier, the best man. Matt has seen too much violence, and his heavy attraction to Melanie promises to soothe his soul and set his body on fire. Gunfire erupts, the game is on, and Melanie and Matt fight for their lives and the heat exploding between them.

Inside Scoop: The couples in the Love Under Fire series find love through the crucible of a mall shooting event.

 

underfire_200When the stakes are high, there’s only one man she’ll trust when danger rips her world apart.

Kathleen McSwain truly understands the saying “always the bridesmaid, never the bride”. Was she nuts the day she agreed to be a bridesmaid for the eighth time? Especially when it means she’ll be in close proximity to rugged Army Major Jake Frasier-the man she fell in love with when they were in high school.

Being out of control is the last thing Kathleen wants, and Jake tempts her to be the wild woman she used to be. Jake is too hot, too disturbing, too stirring for her blood. But when gunfire strikes close, the fight for survival will forge a bond deeper than they ever imagined.

 

 

 

Whiskey Slush…for when the lights go out.

Posted on by Selena Robins

Please join me in welcoming, the multi-published, award-winning, eclectic Denise A. Agnew, as she talks about BLACKOUT;  paranormal romantic suspense novel.

Denise is also sharing a slushie-for-adults recipe for this week’s Tasty Tuesday— Whiskey Slush (recipe below).

Seeing In The Dark: Blackout by Denise A. Agnew

BlackoutLargeMany thanks to Selena for a chance to swing by and chat a moment about BLACKOUT.

Blackout is a paranormal romantic suspense that has a touch of post-apocalyptic flavor in it. Blackout is one of those stories where I twisted the genre.

How did I get the idea for this novel? In my neighborhood there’s an unoccupied house. It doesn’t look “haunted” but there’s something about it that feels haunted. The rosebushes and other plants get overgrown and eventually someone cleans them up.

What if a hero and heroine were inexplicably drawn to the house, and what if a solar flare also threatened to turn their world into chaos? That was the first spark for Blackout.

The heroine has spent the last ten years rebuilding her life after witnessing her abusive husband commit suicide and surviving the 2004 tsunami. She’s vacationing in the Colorado mountains when a solar flare takes out the grid.

The hero is an ex-marine, and currently a Federal Marshal. He’s spent much of his life erasing childhood memories too horrible to remember. Until he sees the heroine, and primal male instincts to protect come to life. When the world goes to hell, he realizes he’d do anything to protect her.

Praise for BLACKOUT

“Do you have an appetite for romance with a paranormal twist? If so, then Denise Agnew may have just the right recipe in Blackout. She starts with strong characters each with a secret or two, she then adds a creepy old house and a handful of unique townsfolk. Lastly she sprinkles in unforeseen events and adds that dash of spice! This is a dish best served on a dark evening or better yet on a stormy afternoon. Sit back in your favorite chair with the beverage of your choice and enjoy!”

–Lezli Polm, author of Thin Is The Veil: A Haunting Memoir

Cassie Kovac has had to face the prospect of losing her life not only once, but twice. The first time she survived a tsunami, the second time she is facing evil that will not only kill her, but destroy the world around her.

Ex-marine Neal Griffin has a dark—and in his mind—shameful past, one that he has tried to come to terms with, keeping his secret that haunts him close to his chest. He also keeps Cassie close to him once he meets her and does everything in his power to protect her from the dangers that lurk in their vicinity.

Blackout is a wonderful mix of suspense, paranormal, mystery, steamy romance and characters that you will root for at every turn.

Denise Agnew has done it again, as she takes the reader through a series of suspenseful moments, twists that will intrigue you, all the time weaving a complex relationship between Cassie and Griff that steam up the pages. –Selena Robins

To read an excerpt and learn more about Denise’s novels, please visit click HERE to visit her website and blog.

Blackout is available at:

Amazon — Barnes and Noble — Smashwords

Whiskey Slush by Denise Agnew

At first thought I wondered, how good could something called whiskey slush be?

Hell, its got whiskey? How could it not be good?

Ingredients:

7 cups water

½ to 1 cup of sugar depending on taste

2-4 teabags

1 12 oz can frozen lemonade

1 12 oz can orange juice

2 cups whiskey

7-Up, Sprite or ginger ale

Directions:

Bring water and sugar to a boil, then cool.

While water is boiling steep 3 to 4 teabags in 2 cups of water and discard teabags.

Mix lemonade, orange and 2 cups of whiskey together.

Now combine all the Ingredients: and freeze.

To serve: scoop slush mix into a glass and pour 7-Up, Sprite or ginger ale over the slush.

Ah…good stuff!

 

 

 

Inside an Asylum with Denise Agnew

Posted on by Selena Robins

Please join me in welcoming the multi-talented, award winning author, Denise Agnew, as she talks about her trilogy which take place in an asylum.

Denise is also giving away a paperback of one of her books. (Contest details below.)

Selena: Thank you for joining me, Denise. Let’s get right to the heart of this interview and your biggest quirk (okay, maybe not a quirk for you, but anyone who loves spooky movies is quirky to me).

I know you love scary movies. Is there a movie that makes your goosebumps sprout goosebumps?

Denise: Glad to be here, Selena, and isn’t your comment about quirks is a little bit of the pot calling the kettle? 🙂

Movies don’t generally scare me, but I will admit that the trailers for The Exorcist still make hairs on my body stand up. The two spooky movies I found the scariest weren’t horror movies. Seven and Silence of The Lambs were extremely disturbing in that scary way. Two of my favorite classic horror movies are The Exorcist and The Shining. Slasher flicks mostly bore me. Okay, exception to that would be the Scream franchise. I love the way those movies don’t take themselves too seriously.

Selena: You’re an eclectic writer; historical, suspense, paranormal, sexy stories with hot heroes and strong heroines, holiday themed stories and even sexily sweet stories. What makes the Asylum trilogy unique, compared to your other books?

1Denise: These books are definitely romances, just as all my stories, but I threw in the kitchen sink with this trilogy. I was trying to do a lot of things in three books.

Paranormal elements are foremost. What if evil grew in a place and over the decades it became larger and no one understood it or where it originated? After that you have social the elements with regard to each era and the horrifying challenges each heroine encounters that have as much to do with the times they live in, and are as much a part of the stories as the paranormal elements.

The heroine in the first novel is overcoming odds that don’t seem possible to overcome, and in the second novel I wanted to build the sense of dread that must have existed at the time when World War I was raging and the Spanish flu was decimating the world.

In the third book I drew in some of the craziness I see infecting the world in the present day and the fear I see overwhelming people. I don’t mind bringing up ignorance, bullying, prejudice and the many ways people display it.  In each book I’m illustrating that every era has its challenges, and that no one era has the be all or end all on difficulties. I loved putting the characters through these challenges while I watched them fall in love.

Selena: What is your go-to snack while in deep writing mode?

Denise: Yogurt. Easy to snarf down!

Selena: Another quirk that I know about you, is that you love Halloween. I know, I know, pot calling kettle…but seriously, why do people love Halloween? I’ll have to delve into that for another blog. So tell us, what is it about this holiday that intrigues you?

Denise: It’s steeped in the pagan and the mysterious and paranormal. It has always called to me on a deep level.  I’m a paranormal investigator and that time of the year seems to be an excellent time to explore the unknown. It has always been my favorite holiday, and I have so many fond memories of it. Every October I spend a ton of time watching all my favorite spooky movies and sometimes even writing a spooky story. Fall is my favorite time of the year.

Selena: What I love most about your writing is that you are always creating outside the box, especially with this trilogy. I thoroughly enjoyed it, even though you know I’m not a fan of spooky things, but this wasn’t spooky or eerie at all…okay, some parts were edge of the seat worthy, but they were so well done and I was totally immersed in the romances in each book.

During your research for the Asylum trilogy, was there anything interesting that happened during the research, or something you discovered that left you speechless.

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Denise: Thank you, I know it’s not your type of reading, which makes the fact that you enjoyed them that much sweeter.

Researching the past always means I’ll learn something intriguing. I love history. When I researched World War I and the Spanish flu for the second book, it surprised me how deeply affected I was by the suffering people endured in that era. It makes a lot of what most people complain about today pale in comparison. It makes me tremendously grateful for all I have and how wonderful my life really is.

Selena: If you could go back in time and have lunch with Edgar Allan Poe, what one question are you burning to ask him?

Denise: I’d ask him if he every wanted to stop writing and just chuck it all into the garbage. I love his work, and I figure he was delightfully twisted, as so many writers are. 🙂

Selena: We are twisted, but in a good crazy way that makes sense to us and to our readers.

Tell us something nobody knows about you?

Denise: This is something that a few people know about me. I’m an empath but didn’t really figure that out and accept it until about ten years ago. It’s very helpful in some ways and a pain in the ass on other days. I learn more about being an empath every day.

Selena: If you had your own talk show, which three guests would you like to have on, and why?

Denise: Oooohhhh…very good question. I’d probably interview Dean Koontz, Stephen King and Linda Howard. Dean Koontz because he’s one of my favorite writers, he’s funny, and I like how he took control of his publishing career and didn’t allow the publishing world to take control of him. Stephen King because I loved his book On Writing. Linda Howard because I’ve enjoyed many of her books, and she’s also a very funny lady.

Selena: If you could assign a soundtrack to the Asylum trilogy what would it be?

3Denise: I actually have a soundtrack made up which consists of a lot of different music that fits sections of the book. All of it is scary/gloomy/creepy or romantic, depending on the individual book. I assign certain songs as “love themes” or “love scene” type music as well. I used some music from Woman In Black for example, as well as Fernando Velazquez’s Shiver soundtrack. But I also used some James Newton Howard music, When A Stranger Calls soundtrack and a whole host of other stuff.

Selena: If you could assign a soundtrack to your life, what would it be?

Denise: That’s a super hard question. It would probably be a huge soundtrack made out of 70’s, 80’s  music and a ton of classical music from different eras in time. I love music from a lot of different time periods, so it would be a mixed bag. Top Gun soundtrack, Elton John music, and even disco. Hey, I’m dating myself.

About Denise Agnew:

Denise A. Agnew is the author of over 57 novels. Romantic Times Book Reviews calls her romantic suspense novels “top-notch,” and she’s received their coveted TOP PICK rating. Denise has written paranormal, romantic comedy, contemporary, historical, erotic romance, and romantic suspense. Archaeology and archery have crept into her work, and travels through England, Ireland, Scotland, and Wales have added to a lifetime of story ideas. A paranormal investigator, Denise looks forward to exploring the unknown.

Amazon links for the Asylum Trilogy:

Shadows Wait

Shadows Rise

Shadows Fall 

Trilogy Bundle

Contest:

Answer the following question in the comment section of this blog and your name will be entered into a draw to win a Paperback copy of one of Denise’s books.

“If you could assign a soundtrack to your life, what would it be?”

 

 

 

 

Prepare for Halloween with an Asylum & a Contest

Posted on by Selena Robins

Please welcome, multi-talented, award winning author, Denise A. Agnew to my blog, as she talks about her soon to be released, romantic, paranormal, Asylum Trilogy.

Denise is also giving away a book. (Contest details below).

*  *  *  *

Thank you so much to Selena Robins for inviting me to blog here today. I’m happy to be here and share a tidbit with you about my Asylum Trilogy that debuts on Halloween.

This time of year is always special to me. I love autumn, and Halloween is my favorite holiday, so releasing a trilogy filled with chills, romance, and scary paranormal elements is right up my alley.

The Asylum Trilogy formed in my mind one evening as I watched a spooky program about the Trans-Alleghany Lunatic Asylum and the legend of a little girl ghost. That was the springboard for my idea, and I ran with it. As my ideas formed, I realized that one novel wouldn’t hold all I wanted to tell about the asylum.

In Asylum 1: Shadows Wait, I tell the tale of Lilly Luna, a young woman who born in the asylum and grew up there. How does she perceive and deal with the outside world?

What does love feel like to her when the superintendent’s handsome son takes notice of her?

Lilly isn’t an ordinary woman. She’s haunted by the ghost of a young girl she accidentally killed. And the ghosts of other women in the asylum who died at the hands of a serial killer also want her help. They’re dying to get it. No pun intended.

In Asylum 2: Shadows Rise, the ghosts are getting stronger, the evil is thicker. This story is set in 1918 and holds a special meaning in my heart.

Disease and war are two topics only occasionally mentioned in most romance novels. Many romance authors don’t feel it necessary to dig deep into the worst nature of the time periods for which they write their novels. This is neither good nor bad, but I’ll admit that the grit is something I want to know and write. I like getting my hands dirty.

Even before I started research into the era surrounding World War I, I wanted to start writing about the hero and heroine and the extraordinary circumstances they would have encountered going through World War I and the influenza pandemic that ravaged the world from 1917 to 1920. The more I read about these events, the more it became apparent to me that these years were horrific times. Everyone on earth was in peril in a way few generations had been before.  The people who survived these events were amazing. How could I have not written a romance during this time period?

In Asylum 3: Shadows Fall, Tranquil View Asylum has been turned into condos. But you know the evil is there, still festering, still haunting any who dare entered its halls. A woman who believes in the supernatural and owns a new age shop knows there’s something awful in Tranquil View. The ex-marine who doesn’t believe in the paranormal knows something happened to his mother, but he refuses to believe the evil in the asylum had anything to do with it. As the asylum wraps them in fear, they’ll turn to a paranormal investigation team to discover what happened to his mother, and how to survive the darkness living within the building.

For blurbs and excerpts, please stop by my website.

There you’ll discover all the information on my books, including the Asylum Trilogy. Also, be certain to sign up for my monthly newsletter on my website. I’m putting out an additional newsletter after the Asylum Trilogy is released for a reminder to all interested readers.

Contest:

Comment on this blog and you could win an e-book from Denise Agnew’s back-list.

Tell her; what scares you to bits?