Q: How did you decide where your book was going to take place?
A: I have family
from Penn Dutch country, and I love the rolling farm land, the barns with their
hex signs, and the spooky forests. The region has some wonderful legends too,
and of course their own folk magic, braucherei.
Q: What’s the “elevator pitch” for your new book, Legacy of the Witch?
A: Legacy of the
Witch is a metaphysical mystery for readers who love a good page-turner as
well as spiritual growth and development
Q: Do you edit as you draft or wait until
you are totally done?
A: I’ll wait until after
I’m done. I’ll usually set the manuscript aside at least six weeks before
starting to edit, so I can see it with fresh eyes.
Q: Describe your writing space/office!
A: In the winter, I sit
at my upstairs dining table where it’s warmer and I have a view of the trees.
In the summer, I retreat to my walk-out basement office, which is cooler. I’m
going to have to make my move downstairs soon!
Q: What’s your favorite foodie indulgence?
A: Cheesecake. The
gooier the better.
Q: What’s your favorite genre to read?
A: Mystery—either cozy
or paranormal.
Q: What’s a recent tv
show/movie/book/podcast you highly recommend?
A: I love Lodge 49 for
the metaphysical elements and for the theme of the invisible connections which
bind us all. It only got two seasons, but the last episode tied things up
perfectly. Still, I wish it would have gotten more.
Q: What do you do when you have free time?
A: Read, watch podcasts,
and lately I’ve been cleaning up my yard to get it ready for the all-too-brief
Colorado summer.
Q: What are three words that describe your
Main Characters?
A: Determined, hopeful,
brave.
Q: What can readers expect from you next?
A: I’m working on the
sequel, Shadow of the Witch, which explores the themes of luck and fate.
LEGACY OF THE WITCH
Kirsten Weiss
GENRE: paranormal women's fiction mystery
Buy at Amazon
Seeker: As societies grow increasingly fragmented, hopelessness, nihilism, and division are on the rise. But there is another way—a way of mystery and magic, of wholeness and transformation. Do you dare take the first step? Our path is not for the faint-hearted, but for seekers of ancient truths...
All April wants is to start over after her husband’s sudden death. She’s conjuring a new path—finally getting her degree and planning her new business in bucolic Pennsylvania Dutch country. Joining an online mystery school seems like harmless fun.
But when a murdered man leaves her a cryptic message, she catches glimpses of another reality she’s unwilling to acknowledge. A reality where bygone enchantments cast cryptic shadows, and the present brims with unanswered questions.
As April works to unearth the mystery, every step brings her closer to a truth she’s been evading. And to a conspiracy of hexes that may end in her demise.
Legacy of the Witch is a spellbinding, interactive tale of a woman’s midlife quest to understand the complexities of her own heart. A paranormal women’s fiction murder mystery for anyone who’s wondered if there might be more to their own life than meets the eye…
Book 1 in the new Mystery School Series featuring the UnTarot, a deck of cards for meaning making. Start reading now!
UnTarot deck app included!
Excerpt
Three:
And there was someone inside the yellow coat. A
silver-haired man.
For a moment I thought it was a bad joke, he wasn’t real.
Then, heart banging, I hopped over the stone ledge.
Heedless of the brambles tugging at my clothes, of the muck
squelching beneath my shoes, I stumbled to the supine man. He lay staring with
one broad hand pressed to his chest. Blood stained his neck and pooled in the
hollows around him.
“Oh my God,” I breathed, fumbling for the phone in my jacket
pocket.
His head turned toward me, and I yelped.
I dropped to my knees beside him. “You’re alive. It’s okay.
I’m calling for help now.” What had happened to him? Had he tripped and fallen?
But what had he been doing in the circle?
“Can you put pressure on the wound?” I asked. If he
couldn’t, I’d need to. I’d need a cloth, something to staunch the flow.
But first, help. Hands shaking, I called 9-1-1.
He lifted a hand and pointed toward the trees. “Look
beneath,” he whispered. “The brotherhood.”
“It’s okay,” I said. “I’m calling now.” I pressed the phone
to my ear. “I’m calling...” My voice faded.
His blue eyes grew as cold and impersonal as the Atlantic, and he stared without seeing at the sky. A thick dullness fogged my chest. I was too late. He was dead.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
a Rafflecopter giveawayAUTHOR Bio and Links:
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My current focus is my new Mystery School series, starting with Legacy of the Witch. Traditionally, women’s fiction refers to fiction where a woman—usually in her midlife—is going through some sort of dramatic change. A lot of us do go through big transitions in midlife. We get divorced or remarried. The kids leave the nest. Our bodies change. The midlife crisis is real—though it manifests in different ways—as we look back on where we’ve been, where we’re going, and the time we have left.
Now in my mid-fifties, I’ve spent more time thinking about the big “meaning of life” issues. It seemed like approaching those issues through witch fiction, and through a fictional mystery school, would be a fun and a useful way for me to work out some of these ideas in my own head—about change and letting go, faith and fear, and love and longing.
After growing up on a diet of Nancy Drew, Sherlock Holmes, and Agatha Christie, I’ve published over 60 mysteries—from cozies to supernatural suspense, as well as an experimental fiction book on Tarot. Spending over 20 years working overseas in international development, I learned that perception is not reality, and things are often not what they seem—for better or worse.
There isn’t a winter holiday or a type of chocolate I don’t love,
and some of my best friends are fictional.
https://www.facebook.com/metaphysicaldetective/
http://www.twitter.com/kirstenweiss
Title: The Frog in the Room
Series: Escape! 1
Author: Jade Buchanan
Publisher: Changeling Press
Release Date: April 12, 2024
Heat Level: 4 - Lots of Sex
Pairing: Male/Male
Length: 16 pages
Genre: Romance, Dark Fantasy, Paranormal Women's Fiction, Shapeshifters
Title: Flash Point
Series: Protect and Serve
Author: Lena Austin
Publisher: Changeling Press
Release Date: July 7, 2023
Heat Level: 4 - Lots of Sex
Pairing: Male/Male
Length: 46 pages
Genre: Romance, Science Fiction, Action Adventure, RomCom, Paranormal Women's Fiction, Gay, Shapeshifters
My Review for WEAVER'S WEB:
It’s February in Moonshadow Bay, hearts and roses are in the
air as Valentine’s comes closer, Killian and January are planning a short
getaway for the holiday but before they can leave, a mysterious cupid is running
around shooting people with a love potion enchanted arrow and Conjure Ink is
tasked to figure out why a restaurant is being plagued with ghostly encounters
that are turning dangerous. With everything happening in Moonshadow Bay, will January
and Killian be able to get to their vacation in time or worse, will danger heat
up to the point someone is in danger for real?
WEAVER’S WEB delivers a lovely
addition to the Moonshadow Bay series and though part of the story involves a
novella that was part of a now defunct anthology, the author does a great job
expanding the novella story and fleshing out the storyline of that to include
trouble in Moonshadow Bay. I have to admit this series and genre (Paranormal
Women’s fiction) is a treat to read and one I just can’t get enough of. The
author does a bang-up job capturing the characters perfectly, lets them take
the lead as they move through the twists and turns of the story and in the
process keep the reader glued to the pages till the very end. Even though I
read a novella version of the WEAVER’S WEB, the additional fleshed out
story captured my attention right from the beginning. It’s a fast paced, wild
ride from start to finish and one I look forward rereading again in the future.
I don’t want to give away any spoilers to the book and what happens in it.
If you read the Aged to Perfection novella of WEAVER’S WEB,
then you get half the story here, but I highly recommend reading this expanded
story as it includes two cases in Moonshadow Bay that had me guessing what was
going on. It was fun, entertaining and at times had me on the edge of my seat
as January and the Conjure Ink gang try to figure out how to stop these two
cases from continuing. I really enjoy seeing how the characters continue to
grow and expand as the series progresses. If you haven’t tried Ms. Galenorn’s
Moonshadow Bay series, I highly recommend that you start right from the
beginning. Its fun, enjoyable and full of unique and at times quirky characters
that will steal your heart. I can’t wait
to see where she continues to go as January and the rest of the characters in
Moonshadow Bay go in future books.
This is an objective review and not an endorsement
Nineteen tales of older
women finding their voices, finding love, and enjoying their second act in
life. Get ready for AGED TO PERFECTION. This anthology has new and
established authors telling tales that will sure tickle your imagination.
Weaver’s Web by
Yasmine Galenorn: When
paranormal investigator and witch January Jones goes away for Valentine’s Day
with her werewolf boyfriend, Killian, both find something more at the B&B
they are at then meets the eye as ghosts, vampires and more crash their
romantic vacation.
Running with the
Devil by Mandy M. Roth: When a
witch finds her ex in her small magic shop claiming he was set up for a murder,
can she put aside her past with him in order to figure out who is out to destroy him?
My Big Fat Hairy
Wedding by Robyn Peterman: When a
forty-something werewolf supermodel is getting married to the Devil’s daughter’s
son, she finds that her demonic mother-in-law is the least of her problems and
in this case, bridezilla is more of a momzilla…in Hell, literally.
I was thrilled to see some
of my favorite authors here as well as a few new to me authors to try in this
anthology that celebrates life after forty. Three of the stories I will review
as there are just too many to give a review for individually. This anthology has
a diverse set of established authors (Mandy M. Roth, Yasmine Galenorn, etc.) to
new voices in the genre making their mark. I found the mix of both to have some
hits (quite a few hits to be honest) and a few misses that didn’t quite gel
with me as a reader. I will be honest, the paranormal women’s fiction genre is something
that is fun, entertaining and really new to the world of books. I find that I
like these books a lot with their very relatable characters being over forty
and so diverse that it is hard to decide which called to me more.
First up, Weaver’s Web
by Yasmine Galenorn. This is part of her Moonshadow Bay series that I
just love, and I am thrilled to see January and Killian enjoying some time away
from their home base. The story is full of unique characters, a lush scenery
that left me wanting to visit and a mystery to solve. The author does a
wonderful job keeping my attention as I sped through the book, and I felt it
was on par with the past Moonshadow Bay books as it was filled to the brim with
twists that I sure didn’t see coming. All in all, a wonderful novella in the
series.
Next is Running with he
Devil by Mandy M. Roth. This was one of the first stories I clicked on and
found to be highly enjoyable, entertaining and had me on the edge of my seat a
few times with anticipation. I loved the sparks that flew between Kerri and Patrick.
The mystery that surrounded Patrick was intriguing and I felt this should have
been a longer book because I really wanted to know more about these two.
Overall, a great story that fit nicely in the anthology.
Finally, My Big Fat
Hairy Wedding by Robyn Peterman. I got to admit this one had me
laughing hysterically at times. Swoozie is a forty-five supermodel but also a
werewolf who is marrying the Devil’s grandson. Add in a soon to be
Mother-in-Law from Hell, the fact she doesn’t make friends easy and more well, let’s
just say let the good times roll. This story was by far the perfect
introduction to Ms. Peterman’s writing. The characters were highly
entertaining, intriguing and one of the few stories that I can honestly say had
me laughing from the first page to the last. I never wanted to know more about
Swoozie and the rest of the gang than I did reading this story. The sheer fun
that was in the story had me right from the start and I know I am going to check
out this author’s books in the paranormal women’s fiction genre to see what else
I can get my hands on.
Overall, AGED TO
PERFECTION has some hits out of the ballpark and a few misses for me. The
writing for some of the stories were fast paced and entertaining where a few
others were just slow to heat up for me. I can say for the most part there were
more hits than misses in this anthology for me that isn’t always the case. If
you are looking for an anthology that gives you a mix of authors (new and old),
stores to see if something may intrigue you to look more at the author’s books
then try AGED TO PERFECTION and settle in for a fun time. I can highly
recommend this anthology if you never read a paranormal women’s fiction book
before. Perfect choice on a cold winter’s night.
This is an objective review
and not an endorsement
HARVEST WEB starts off slow and the author does a great job in capturing the mood of the beginning of the book- slow, easy and drama free. Well by end of chapter one, it all comes crashing down around January’s head when a mysterious ghost and dead body pop up in her house after renovations are done. I love how Ms. Galenorn continues to deliver a fun, action packed story that is filled with heart and a bit of romantic suspense as well. Her characters in this series feel so normal and life-like to me. It makes me want to pop in and have coffee with January, Ari and the gang one day.
The one thing I can honestly say about HARVEST WEB is
how much fun it is. The story has a few twists and turns I don’t see coming and
I love knowing more about January’s family, her heritage, and her powers. With
every page I flipped, I got lost within HARVEST WEB until I looked up
and saw hours passed and I finished the book. Now the waiting begins as the
next book, Shadow Web, is out and we see what else is in store for January and
the gang.
If you enjoy a fun, action packed paranormal story with
characters that grow with each book and keep the reader glued to the seat, then
I highly recommend this series for you to enjoy. Each book captivates the
reader and I, for one, am eager to see where Ms. Galenorn’s goes with this
series.
This is an objective review and not an endorsement.
January is
settling more into her life in Moonshadow Bay and is finding joy again with
friends, family, and her job at Conjure Ink. As she awaits to face with the
Aseer to see where her magical strengths are, she finds secrets that are buried
in her family history around d her great-grandmother Colleen and a long-lost
child. Then when she and Ari take on a private case, they find it too big for
them to handle and ask in Conjure Ink to help them out in solving the riddle
that is around a child who may not be a child. As January investigates, she
finds herself being led to the woodlings and magical intrigue. With danger coming
for them, January finds herself determined to help solve this case and figure
out answers even as she finds her own world view changing the more, she learns
about the magical world she lives in.
WOW is all I
can say, and I am going to not mention that easter egg that is hidden in the
third book because that alone had me going ‘OMG!!” out loud in delight and
shock. Ms. Galenorn is on my auto-buy regardless of what she writes because I
just adore her books and with this third book in her new paranormal women’s
fiction series, Moonshadow Bay, we get a story that is complex, mysterious, and
more within its pages plus a few twists I sure didn’t see coming. If you read
books one and two (Starlight Web and Midnight Web) then you are familiar with January
and how she moved to Moonshadow Bay. If you haven’t then I highly recommend
reading those first two books before CONJURE WEB as it leads into this
one. I love January to pieces. She is older, more mature and I can relate to
her and her travels as she navigates life as a divorce and picks up the pieces
of a shattered marriage. What really intrigued me was how much she grew as a
character between all three books the reader sees how she continues to find her
strength and self-esteem again. Add in magical mysteries and secondary characters
that keep the story rolling along nicely and all that combined is my catnip, so
to speak.
Ms. Galenorn’ and I am extremely impressed at how she continues to expand
Moonshadow Bay while also introducing some new characters to discover, a few
old ones to know more of and a place that makes me want to yell ‘ROAD TRIP’
just to visit. The characters are so different and unique but also independent
which lets me enjoy all their personalities immensely and I love how beautifully
written they are. With a story that flows seamlessly from start to finish, the
reader is taken on a journey that will leave you spellbound. So, sit back, take
a load off and settle in as January finds herself once again in the thick of
things as a new case and family secrets come together to give her answers and
more in CONJURE WEB. Now all I am anxious is now book four, Harvest Web
to get here so I can see what else is in store for the gang in Moonshadow Bay.
This is an
objective review and not an endorsement.
Moonshadow Bay Series
Book 2: Midnight Web
January Jaxson
is finding herself again after a disastrous marriage ends with her starting
over, divorced, and living back in her hometown of Moonshadow Bay. Her job with
Conjure Ink is interesting and she is enjoying her new relationship with wolf
shifter, Killian, her next-door neighbor. But when she opens an old bottle, she
got from a thrift store, she finds more than even she has bargained. A djinn
needs her help and after promising to see what she can do; she vows to give him
his freedom at all possible. But at same time, the case Conjure Ink is working
on has them in wrestling with active, malicious spirits and more in a local
restaurant. Can January figure out how to calm the spirits down and let them
rest before they do more damage, or will she find that turning forty-one is
just a wish and prayer as danger heats up?
MIDNIGHT
WEB continues January’s
story from Starlight Web as we get to know more about her, her hometown and her
friends and family in Moonshadow Bay. I got to admit this series is definitely coming
in a close third as one of my favorites of this author’s. The world building is
phenomenal, and you feel like you are part of the story with January and the
gang and with each book, you get to see more of the town’s secrets as well and
more of the residents there. I love the characters in this series as they are
all diverse, unique, and beautifully written. January is a curvy older woman
starting over and I love how relevant she is to me. It made me appreciate her a
lot more as well as her good friends and family helping shore her up when she
finds herself insecure with herself.
Meet January
Jaxson. Divorced and living back in Moonshadow Bay, she is finding herself
again after her marriage went belly up and she came home with nothing but what
she could gather. With her life in tatters, she finds a job at Conjure Ink, a
paranormal investigation business and finds herself intrigued by the different
cases she gets to check out and is enjoying making new friends with her
coworkers. She also finds out the spooky case she is checking out is more than
she ever imagined as spirits are up in arms and determined to hurt people. Add
in a djinn who is now her houseguest for the moment and another small mystery
to solve, well January has her hands full trying to figure things out before
danger mounts and she provably bites the dust. I just adore January and find
her extremely relatable. She is at times tough, tender, assertive and insecure.
She is flawed but that is what makes her, in my opinion, so much fun to read
and enjoy in MOONLIGHT WEB. All the characters are multidimensional and
for me, January is the star of the show by far. Add in her relationships with
family, friends, and lovers then you find a well-rounded woman who is finding
herself again and that right there calls to me in so many ways. With this
second book we see more of the strength that is inside of January as well as
her connections to several people deepen and grow. Ms. Galenorn is a master at
creating diverse, unique characters that fairly brim to life and step off the
pages.
MIDNIGHT WEB delivers an action-packed ride from start to finish and
lots of twists even I didn’t see coming. This is an author who knows instinctively
how to captivate and enthrall her readers, so much so that they need more after
finishing the book. I know I did, and I can’t wait for the next book in the series
to be out in April though I want it now. So, if you enjoy an older main
character that can kick butt and is soft on kittens, then this series is for
you. I am really looking forward to seeing where the author goes in this new
series as it is definitely hitting all my love buttons with each book.
This is an
objective review and not an endorsement.
Moonshadow Bay series:
Glimmer Lake, the unforgettable paranormal women’s fiction series from USA Today bestselling author Elizabeth Hunter, is now available on all platforms!
Binge the series today→ https://elizabethhunterwrites.
Suddenly Psychic (Book One) Synopsis
Every woman goes through changes in their forties. Just not… these changes.
Robin Brannon was a normal wife, mom, and antique-shop owner until a brush with death turned her day-to-day life upside down. Now she and her two best friends are seeing things that belong in a fantasy novel. Ghosts. Visions. Omens of doom. Nothing that belongs in the peaceful mountain town they call home.
Added to that, Robin’s marriage is on the rocks, her grandmother’s health is failing, her mother is driving away the customers at her shop, her teenage daughter refuses to get her driver’s license, and her left knee aches every darn morning.
Robin doesn’t have the time, energy, or knees to unearth the secrets buried at the bottom of Glimmer Lake, but fate doesn’t seem to care. Some secrets are just dying to be exposed.
Some wounds don’t heal. They take over. A Beverly Hills psychological thriller about grief, female rage, fractured identity, and revenge...
