Shadows of the Past by Carmen Stefanescu

  Shadows of the Past

Publish date: 4^th December 2012

 

Publisher: Wild Child Publishing

 

Genre: paranormal/light romance/light horror.

 

BLURB:

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?

A touching, compelling story of tragedy, loss and the power of endless love and good magic.

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.

 

 

EXCERPT:

 

"Come, we should leave at once," she said and glanced nervously over her shoulder. "Something terrible happened after you left for town. I think the Abbess found out about us. Our meeting in Uncle Ryan's cabin is no longer a secret. We have been overheard. For all I know someone spies on us even as we speak. I think the Abbess, or one of her 'friends,' is hovering somewhere nearby and listening to every word."

Andrew pulled Genevieve to his chest. "Do you regret you've come with me?"

Passion smothered Genevieve's doubt and guilt. "Never," she answered, aware of her body's response to his touch, and she succumbed to his embrace.

Calming the gnawing unease in her mind and the thought of Sister Dominica guessing she was the dough of a sinner, Genevieve repeated, "Never."

With her eyes closed and their bodies touching she became, for the very first time, simply a woman. She melted in his embrace in spite of the invisible vicious threat breathing around them. Aware they might never be alone again, she fought hard to silence the voice of conscience berating her.

"Oh, God. Please forgive me," Andrew muttered under his breath when he bowed his head to kiss her. Their lips met in a passionate first kiss.

Genevieve's spirits fell and her heart skipped a beat when, a couple of seconds later, she opened her eyes and her gaze fell on a knot strangers.

                             … . . .

 

            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..."

 

INTERVIEW QUESTIONS:

1) Why do you write romance?
I think it as the best way to express the feeling that moves ahead humankind - Love.  Nevertheless, my books aren’t romances hundred per cent. They are a cross-over, a mix of different genres. You can find in them a bit for everybody. Except romance there are elements of historical, mystery, horror.

2) What romance subgenres do you write in? Why?
I write paranormal. Not because I live in Dracula’s country, Romania, but because I am fascinated with everything paranormal – both reading and writing it. Why? I believe in reincarnation, in past lives. I believe there must be something more after our departure from earth.

3) Are you aware of any themes that run through your stories? If so, what are they?
Karmic retribution is a theme I have in all my novels. The things you do in one life, good or bad, will be reflected in what happens to you in another life.

4) What would you like readers to take away from your stories?
Readers do not like to be told how they should feel about something. When people read my work, they are opening themselves up to my ideas and broadening their worldview. The idea that love is a universal medicine might be an idea.

5) What inspires your stories?
I think, in my humble opinion, that writing, whatever its influences, comes naturally and as a result of accumulating life experiences. We don’t create from nothing. Life touches us and our writing reflects this. So, life is my most valuable source of inspiration, my muse whispering into my ear.

6) Will you be attending any book or writing conferences this year? If yes, which ones? Where and when?

Not such things for me, unfortunately. I live in Europe, Romania and have no access to them.

7) Do you have any book signings or author appearances coming soon? If yes, where and when?

Not these either. My book is an e-book. Readers or fans who want my autograph can request it from my blog page. They receive the cover of the book and my words and signature. Great indeed that someone thought about creating this gadget that allows authors of e-novels offer Authorgraphs.

8) What is your writing schedule?

Mostly during summer holidays as I am a teacher and have enough time to dedicate to writing.

9) Do you have any other passions besides writing? If yes, what are they? Why?
Reading was and still is my favorite pastime. As an only child, my family instilled in me this love for books and I am grateful for it. It offered me an escape during the grim years of dictatorship we lived here until 1989.

10) What is your best memory?
That’s a tough one. It’s difficult to select one. I have good memories from all stages of my life. But to answer the question, let’s say it was the day I saw the list with my admission to University. Perhaps this is difficult for others to understand, but in Romania, before 1989, the competition was fierce, few places in Universities and an entrance examination was the toughest moment.  There were 7 to 10 competitors for a place. So, imagine to see my name on the list was a great accomplishment.

11) What is your favorite comfort food?
Mint bonbons.

12) What relaxes you?
Playing computer games.

13) What is your favorite guilty pleasure?
Like above: playing computer games.

14) What decade has been your favorite? Why?
The sixties. I was a teenager and everything looked rosy. I was not aware of how things really were around here. All I knew was from what was broadcast on radio and TV. There were no shortages as in later years and all my family members were alive.

15) What is your favorite way(s) to promote?
Book Blogs and Goodreads. And blog/book tours like this. I am grateful to all authors or bloggers who hosted me and the promo for Shadows of the Past since its release.

16) Where is your favorite place to write? Why?
 A room where there is silence and I have everything handy. I write the first draft longhand, and then transfer the manuscript in Word to computer.

17) What is your favorite fairy tale? Why?
Fairy tales. I love them. The gory ones and the sappy ones. One Thousand and One Nights is my all time favorite. The frame type story. The story within a story, (the same as in my books), and the fact that Scheherazade is wise and imaginative enough to escape death, due to her gift as a story teller.

18) What was your favorite vacation?
When my kids were young I enjoyed a holiday in the Bucegi Mountains, the Crapathians. The landscape is gorgeous and the atmosphere relaxing.

19) If you have another career, what is it?
Writing isn’t a career for me. Teaching is it. I am a teacher of English and German in my country.

20) If you didn’t write, what would you do instead?
IT specialist. Computers have fascinated me. I am the wizard at home with installing every software needed.

21) If you could have one wish, what would it be?
Even today, I sometimes close my eyes and imagine I am  a wizard in my favorite role play games and  gain enough mana to make everything bad vanish from the face of the earth!

22) If you could describe yourself in only one word, what would it be? Why?
Perseverant. I never gave up the hope of seeing my writing published and kept  sending queries, rolling with the punch of rejection, until my dream has come true. Thanks to Wild Child Publishing, USA.

23) Who was your favorite American Idol contestant this year? Why? (only if you watch the show)
No such thing as I can’t watch the American show. But I can tell you that my favorite actors are Morgan Freeman and Clint Eastwood and actresses: Elizabeth Taylor whom I consider to be one of the last major stars, and Meryl Streep, the greatest living actress, in my opinion.

24) Are you a cat or dog person? Do you have any pets and if so, please tell us about them.
Both. We have five spoiled cats and an even more spoiled dog. Emma is the name of the dog. I named her as one of the characters in my latest novel. In fact she’s been with us for only one month. Our faithful dog, Jack, died last December. I was reluctant to have a new dog as his death shook me terribly, especially that it happened after my return from an emergency surgery. While I was in hospital he missed me and suffered though my husband took care of him. We saved Emma  from the street, from hands of abusive youngsters who kept throwing stones at her. She was a stray dog. The cats are old tenants of ours. Chipy, Blackie, Fifi, Mimi and Petty.

25) What is the one thing you most want to do that you haven’t yet?
See an UFO and meet friendly aliens.

26) Please tell us about your most recent release and where we can purchase it.

            Shadows of the Past is a paranormal/light romance/light horror/light historical/light mystery - so a bit for everyone. No vampires, though I live in Dracula’s country. It is a compelling story about love, hatred, tragic loss and the healing power of endless love and good magic. The story of two women living in different times but facing similar threats.

Buy Links: Wild Child Publishing

http://www.wildchildpublishing.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=84&products_id=410

Buy Link: Amazon

http://www.amazon.com/Shadows-of-the-Past-ebook/dp/B00AK2D9I8/ref=sr_1_15?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1354874514&sr=1-15&keywords=shadows+of+the+past

Buy Link: Barnes & Noble

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/shadows-of-the-past-carmen-stefanescu/1113910162?ean=2940015715026

https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-shadowsofthepast-1013184-140.html

27) Please give us your urls and your publisher’s url.

 

My links:

http://shadowspastmystery.blogspot.ro/

https://twitter.com/Carmen_Books

http://www.pinterest.com/carmens007/

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Carmen-Stefanescu-Books/499245716760283

http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6624397.Carmen_Stefanescu

Publisher’s link:

http://www.wildchildpublishing.com/

28) Is there anything else you’d like to share with your readers? Please do so here.
Get quickly Shadows of the Past and read it! If not, you don't know what you are missing!

Thank you Ashley for hosting me today! I really appreciate it.

 

AUTHOR BIO:

 

Carmen Stefanescu was born and currently resides in Romania, an eastern European country. This is the native country of the infamous vampire Count Dracula; where there was 50 years of communist dictatorship. A country whereas, just speaking about God, faith, reincarnation or paranormal phenomena could have led someone to great trouble – the psychiatric hospital if not to prison! English and German teacher in my native country, and mother of two daughters, she survived the grim years of oppression, by escaping in a parallel world, that of the books. Reading them at that time. Later writing them.

 

She has dreamed all her life to become a writer, but many of the things she 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, the Internet especially, meant a new beginning for her. She started publishing.

 

Since 2001, Midnight Edition Publication has published her poems in the collection Muse Whispers vol.1 and Muse Whispers vol.2. The readers’ interest for her ballad, about the love between a young priest and a nun, published in 2004 by Midnight Edition, inspired her to write her first novel “Shadows of the Past.”