E.J. Stevens's Blog, page 35

Come on boys and ghouls!  It's time to hop on Route 666 for a spooktacular Paranormal Road Trip.  This week's stop is Twelve Acres, Colorado and our special guide is Teri Harman author of The Moonlight Trilogy.

The Moonlight Trilogy is set in Twelve Acres, Colorado so it seems fitting that our guide for this week's Paranormal Road Trip be the amazing Teri Harman.  Let's see what terrifying places Teri has planned for our tour.

Twelve Acres' Top Spooky Places
The Twelve Acres Museum
The museum is housed in the same building that Ruby Plate and her covens of witches met in the early days of Twelve Acres. Here they performed all their rituals and spells. Today, with the highest concentration of ghosts, it's a must-see sight.

Canyon Cave
A few miles up the canyon, outside of town, you'll find a cave in a clearing, surrounded by majestic aspen trees. Many terrible things have happened in this place. Dark covens performed heinous curses, a woman left for dead lived like a ghost for years, other were held captive. And others died.

Plate's Place
The original home of Ruby and Charles Plate, town founders, the house now stands in disrepair. In the moonlight you may even catch a glimpse of the gossamer figure of Ruby's ghost lingering under the branches of the giant weeping willow in the backyard.

The Twelve Acres Cemetery
Here you will find the graves of Ruby and Charles Plate, and many more of the original members of the town's covens. Also, if you look carefully you'll see the unsettling marks of Dark magic left by Archard on the night of a July full moon when snow fell in response to his terrible spell.

Thank you Teri for giving us such a haunting tour of Twelve Acres!  
To learn more about Teri Harman and her books, please visit her website, and don't miss our Q+A with Teri Harman here at From the Shadows.  You can add The Moonlight Trilogy here on Goodreads.



What did you think of Teri Harman's picks for spooky places?
Last week on Paranormal Road Trip we visited South Toms River, New Jersey with Shawntelle Madison.  Next week we'll be traveling to New York City.

Join us for another spine-tingling Paranormal Road Trip...
if you dare!

What's this?


After my recent book release, I decompressed with a trip to Walt Disney World.  This wasn't my first trip.  In fact, as much as I love globetrotting and exploring my favorite European cities, there are times when I just need to unwind, give my brain a vacation, and be a kid again.

Ever since my writing schedule has demanded 2-3 books per year, I've managed to make at least one annual escape to Disney.  At first I took TONS of pictures.  For this trip, I decided to shake things up a bit and try to make my photos more fun.  But how to make vacation photos interesting when it's a repeat destination?  That's where Jack comes in.

Say hello to my friend, Jack Skellington.


A friend gave me a Day of the Dead Jack Skellington for Halloween, and I couldn't resist bringing this little guy to the parks with me.  Best idea EVER.  If you haven't tried something like this before, I highly recommend it.

What are you looking at?


I should warn you that I did receive some strange looks.  I thought it was hilarious, but then again, I'm easily amused.  Jack made his way around each of the Disney theme parks.  He managed to take selfies in all of the countries around the World Showcase at Epcot, with Mexico being his favorite.  Hint: They had mini sombreros!  

Jack Skellington gets around...

There were so many photos by the end of my trip, too many to share here in one blog post.  So I've uploaded a best of album to Photobucket.  Check out Jack Skellington's Disney Vacation Slideshow and let me know what your favorite photo is.  Have a request?  I might bring Jack along next year...

New Disney Attractions

I also caught some great shots of new Disney attractions.  Even if Jack selfies aren't your thing (he's not for everybody), you'll want to check out the slideshow for pictures of the Festival of Fantasy Parade, the new flag performers in Epcot's World Showcase Italy pavilion, the Frozen Ice Castle Lighting, the Jingle Cruise, and the new Haunted Mansion themed gift shop Memento Mori.

In the mood for a paranormal holiday read?  We've got you covered.

The Bite Before Christmas Giveaway
We are giving away a BLOOD AND MISTLETOE signed postcard and ebook to one lucky winner!

To enter, leave a comment on this post telling us one thing you either like or hate about the holidays.  This giveaway is INTERNATIONAL.  Ebook available in Kindle, PDF, and ePub formats.  Giveaway ends December 20, 2014 midnight EST.


Blood and Mistletoe (Ivy Granger #1.5) by E.J. Stevens

Holidays are worse than a full moon for making people crazy. In Harborsmouth, where many of the residents are bloodsucking vampires or monstrous fae, the combination may prove deadly.

Ivy Granger, psychic private investigator, returns to the streets of Harborsmouth in this addition to the bestselling urban fantasy series.

Holidays are Hell, a point driven home when a certain demon attorney returns with information regarding a series of bloody murders. Five Harborsmouth residents have been killed and every victim has one thing in common--they are fae. Whoever is killing faeries must be stopped, but they only leave one clue behind--a piece of mistletoe floating in a pool of the victim's blood.

The holidays just got interesting. Too bad this case may drive Ivy mad before the New Year. Heck, she'll be lucky to survive Christmas.

Blood and Mistletoe is an Ivy Granger series novella.

Add to Goodreads.

Also, don't miss out on the Urban Fantasy Black Friday Kindle Deal ending soon.  Blood and Mistletoe on sale for 99 cents until December 9, 2014!

Happy Holidays!

It's official!  I am now on BookLikes.  You can check out my personal BookLikes page and follow me here. I've imported my books and reviews from Goodreads (over 4,000 books, eep!), and will be maintaining both profiles with current reads and posts about my favorite (mostly) paranormal and urban fantasy books and authors.

I'm also linked to the verified E.J. Stevens official BookLikes author page, where you can find my books.

Are you on BookLikes?
Share your profile link in the comments, and I'll be sure to stop by and check out your page!

BookLikes Book Giveaway
To celebrate my new "official" status, there's also a Booklikes Blood and Mistletoe Ebook Giveaway.  Be sure to stop on by and enter.  Three lucky winners will receive a copy of Blood and Mistletoe, an Ivy Granger paranormal holiday novella, in choice of Kindle, PDF, or ePub format.  Giveaway ends December 25, 2014.  Good luck!

Come on boys and ghouls!  It's time to hop on Route 666 for a spooktacular Paranormal Road Trip.  This week's stop is South Tom's River, New Jersey and our special guide is Shawntelle Madison author of the Coveted series.

The Coveted series is set in South Tom's River so it seems fitting that our guide for this week's Paranormal Road Trip be the amazing Shawntelle Madison.  Let's see what terrifying places Shawntelle has planned for our tour.

South Tom's River's Top 5 Spooky Places
*The cozy borough of South Toms River, New Jersey was incorporated in 1927.  Before that point, the place had been the home to colonists from overseas and all sorts of spooky inhabitants.

Road Trip Stop #1:  Bend of the River Flea Market

The Bend of the River Flea Market, or The Bends, as the locals call it, happens to be a hot spot of paranormal activity. Most citizens go about their business, unaware that between the Victorian furniture and antiques ghosts and other ghouls roam the hallways.

According to the Fire Witch who works at the cash registers, there is a ghostly gentleman in 1940s attire who visits the back docks every morning. She leaves a lit cigarette for him in the morning, and by the afternoon when her shift ends, the cigarette is nothing but a stub.

The locals say every once in a while, during the red hunter’s moon, they see a goblin-like man sneaking on and off the property. Also, the place makes strange noises at night. The sound is loud as if someone is stacking coins into a monstrous pile.

Road Trip Stop #2:  Archie’s Burgers and Fries

If you asked anyone in South Toms River if Archie’s was haunted, they’d laugh at you. And for good reason. Archie’s has the best burgers in the area. From over a mile away you can practically taste the fresh fries and hear the sizzle of the burgers on the grill. But locals have said during the full moon they see large four-legged creatures roaming the parking lot. For some reason, Animal Removal Services refuses to drive in the neighborhood during the full moon.

Road Trip Stop #3:  Smiling Sammy’s Bait and Tackle

Right off the town marina, Smiling Sammy’s Bait and Tackle is a haunted hot spot. Compared to most bait and tackle establishments, Sammy Burnell’s place always seems strangely tidy and smells like confectionaries. It’s almost as if someone shows up nightly and cleans up any of the cigarette butts or litter left along the curb. According to city records, in the 1950s the building used to be a candy shop and a bait & tackle establishment. As you can imagine, most folks didn’t want to buy their Charleston Chews with a bucket of stinky, squirmy worms. The earthy smell inside the store confused most folks, too.

After winning the state championship, high school students once took a box of toilet paper, double-layered with extra softness, and tee-peed the place. The next morning, the owner showed up to find a free box of toilet paper and a rusty, old can of Beer Nuts at his door step.  Some citizens whisper that the candy store owner, who passed away after choking on a box of month-old, rock-hard Milk Duds, is determined for bait shop to become a candy store again.

Road Trip Stop #4:  Family Bargain Video and DVD Super Store

This place isn’t haunted per se, but well, the store is always empty. The owner says VHS and LaserDisc tapes are gonna make a comeback, but the shelves seem to be fully stocked. An investigation from a local paranormal activity group came out with inconclusive results. There seems to be a VCR that rewinds on its own…

Road Trip Stop #5:  Mr. Greg Jacobson’s Field

There’s a field not too far from a small cottage to the south of town. The illusive woman who lives in the cottage nearby didn’t have much to say about the strange field, but an investigation did reveal there’s something weird about Mr. Greg Jacobson’s cornfield. There’s a large, peculiar rock in the center of one of the fields that Mr. Jacobson refuses to remove.

“It’s weird as hell, but the crops grow well around it,” he says. He shrugs and gives a toothy grin. “My wife says I got fairies or something loco like that, but I have a feeling the neighbors are letting their cows take a dump in that field. Pure gold cowpies, I tell ya!”

If you took the time to head over there, the rock is strange to the touch. A bit warm, even on a crisp fall day. There’s a bit of a hum to it, too. Almost as if something is vibrating inside.

Want to explore more of the Coveted universe in South Toms River, NJ? Check out the Coveted series books: Coveted (Book #1), Kept (Book #2), and Compelled (Book #3).

Thank you Shawntelle for giving us such a haunting tour of South Tom's River!  
To learn more about Shawntelle Madison and her books, please visit her website, and don't miss our Q+A with Shawntelle Madison here at From the Shadows.  You can add the Coveted series here on Goodreads.



What did you think of Shawntelle Madison's picks for spooky places?
Last week on Paranormal Road Trip we visited Los Angeles with Melissa F. Olson.  Next week we'll be traveling to Twelve Acres, Colorado with Teri Harman.

Join us for another spine-tingling Paranormal Road Trip...
if you dare!

Please welcome today's guest author, Marlene Wynn!  Marlene is the author of Chandrea: The Return of the Avatar Queen.

Q+A with Marlene Wynn
EJ:  When did you begin writing?

Marlene:  It took me several years to finish my first novel.  That was mostly due to inexperience, life, and writers block (which happened WAY too often!)  But the work on my second novel went much easier as I had a system down now and a good amount of the story had already been fleshed out.  Because of that, it only took me about a year to write the second book in the Averill series.

EJ:  What brought you to the paranormal genre?

Marlene:  I seem to enjoy going from genre to genre.  For years, I like romance, then action/adventure, and now fantasy.

EJ:  If you could be any paranormal or have any one supernatural talent, what would it be? Why?

Marlene:  A shapeshifter.  How cool would that be?  To become anything you want at any time.  Think of all the fun (and trouble) you could get into!

EJ:  Tell us why readers will enjoy your new release.

Marlene:  First, as a story about a young woman who is an orphan twice over and is searching for her roots, I think it would resonate with a lot of readers in the same situation.
Second, I’ve tried to show that, even though life throws tragedy in your path, with love and determination, you can get through to the other side.  That you can still live a happy and productive life.
Third, this is a story of sheer strength of mind and character.  When you’re entire foundation is ripped from beneath you, what do you do?  How do you act?  Who do you become?

EJ:  If your book(s) were being made into a movie, who would you cast for the leading roles?

Marlene:
Chandrea:  Victoria Justice
Leilah:  Lana Parilla
Ayden:  Chris Hemsworth
Denae:  Emma Watson
Ian:  Zac Effron
Shawn:  Derek Hough

Have a question for Marlene? Ask away in the comments!

Chandrea: The Return of the Avatar Queen (Averill #1) by Marlene Wynn.

Chandrea Averill thinks she’s just like any other normal young woman. But, on the day of her 23rd birthday, her life changes forever.

Surrounded by magical creatures, dangerous sorcery, and insidious political intrigue, Chandrea desperately wants to return to Earth and the only life she’s ever known. But, the longer she stays, the more she realizes that she may be the only one with the power – both magical and political – to save the people of Lyrunia. Will she find the courage to remain and fight for her home world?

Release Date: September 22, 2014
Genre: New Adult, Paranormal, Fantasy
Add to Goodreads.

Thank you Marlene for joining us here today at From the Shadows!

To learn more about Marlene Wynn and her books, please visit her website.

Chandrea Book + Swag Giveaway
The author is giving away a print copy of Chandrea: The Return of the Avatar Queen, a handmade fairy, and a set of character trading cards to one lucky winner!


To enter, please use the easy peasy Rafflecopter form below.  This giveaway is open to US and Canada only.  This is an Xpresso tours giveaway, and the winner will be randomly selected by author or publisher.  Giveaway ends January 5, 2015.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Looking for a paranormal holiday read?  You're in luck!  BLOOD AND MISTLETOE , an Ivy Granger urban fantasy novella, is on sale for a limited time.

This is one Black Friday deal that you can grab without ever hitting the stores.

For two weeks only, Blood and Mistletoe is reduced in price from $2.99 to 99 cents on Kindle .  At this price, you can grab a copy of Blood and Mistletoe for yourself and copies for all of the paranormal and urban fantasy lovers on your holiday shopping list!


Blood and Mistletoe (Ivy Granger, Psychic Detective #1.5) by E.J. Stevens.

Holidays are worse than a full moon for making people crazy. In Harborsmouth, where many of the residents are bloodsucking vampires or monstrous fae, the combination may prove deadly.

Ivy Granger, psychic private investigator, returns to the streets of Harborsmouth in this addition to the bestselling urban fantasy series.

Holidays are Hell, a point driven home when a certain demon attorney returns with information regarding a series of bloody murders. Five Harborsmouth residents have been killed and every victim has one thing in common--they are fae. Whoever is killing faeries must be stopped, but they only leave one clue behind--a piece of mistletoe floating in a pool of the victim's blood.

The holidays just got interesting. Too bad this case may drive Ivy mad before the New Year. Heck, she'll be lucky to survive Christmas.

Blood and Mistletoe is an Ivy Granger series novella.

Release Date: November 2012
Genre: Paranormal, Urban Fantasy
Add to Goodreads.

Praise for Blood and Mistletoe
4.3 out of 5 stars
"Snag this for your e-reader, curl up with some eggnog or hot chocolate, and lose yourself in the world of Harborsmouth."
-Reading Lark

"Blood and Mistletoe is fast paced, full of action and mystery."
-My Urban Fantasies

"I highly suggest anyone who likes an entertaining paranormal mystery should check it out."
-The Reading Diaries

"The Ivy Granger series just keeps getting better!"
-Mad Hatter Reads

"I highly recommend anyone who enjoys an irreverent heroine with a spunky sidekick, a hunky fellow and a nice supernatural mystery, to pick up this series, you won't regret it."
-Paranormal Romance Guild

"I really enjoyed the novella and recommend it. The story is easy to read, fast paced and although short it keeps you captivated."
-The Life of a Book Junky

"Amazing novella!"
-Twilight Sleeps

"Paranormal fans rejoice, there's a new series in town. And it's here to stay."
-The Bawdy Book Blog

"This book is a novella, but Stevens puts in a lot of action...if you like urban fantasy, you really need to read E.J. Stevens' Ivy Granger series."
-Now Is Gone

"The plot is strong and all of our favorite characters are back... Another great addition to the Ivy Granger, Psychic Detective series."
-Sapphyria's Book Reviews

"I recommend treating yourself or a friend to a volume to celebrate the holidays!"
-Sofia Wren

"As always Ivy was a fantastic main character who is always able to keep me chuckling and always kicking butt everywhere she goes.
-Book Bite Reviews

"Stevens has done a fantastic job with bringing her world to us."
-Urban Fantasy Investigations

About the Ivy Granger Series
The Ivy Granger series is an urban fantasy series written by E.J. Stevens. The series is told in the first-person point-of-view of Ivy Granger, a psychic detective with ties to the paranormal underworld of Harborsmouth--ties that ensnare Ivy and her friend Jinx in the Machiavellian schemes of the city's teeming population of bloodsucking vampires and psychotic faeries.

Order Now| Amazon | Amazon.CA | Amazon.UK |
Please note that this sale is scheduled to take place through December 9, 2014.  Retailers can change prices at any time, so be sure to check the price before purchasing.

Congratulations to Yaritza S. the winner of the Hunting in Bruges Release Party Giveaway !  Yaritza will receive a Hunting in Bruges *signed* Trade Paperback, t-shirt, sticker, *signed* postcard, and poster.



Thank you to all who partied with us!

*Giveaway winner selected randomly using Rafflecopter*

Come on boys and ghouls!  It's time to hop on Route 666 for a spooktacular Paranormal Road Trip.  This week's stop is Los Angeles, California and our special guide is Melissa F. Olson, author of the Scarlett Bernard series.

The Scarlett Bernard series is set in Los Angeles so it seems fitting that our guide for this week's Paranormal Road Trip be the amazing Melissa F. Olson.  Let's see what terrifying places Melissa has planned for our tour.

L.A.'s Top 5 Spooky Places
5. Downtown at night
Downtown Los Angeles is a hive of commerce during the day, but when it gets dark (and there aren’t any movies being filmed) the streets get a sinister, desolate vibe. It’s not just dangerous; it’s completely spooky—especially in the Toy District, where you might theoretically see abandoned pieces of doll parts in the gutters. Just saying.

4. The Griffith Park Zoo
The history of Griffith Park is a complex saga, complete with plenty of suspicious deaths and even a rumored curse. It’s tough to separate the actual facts from the fantastical gossip, especially in a town as unabashedly invested in self-promotion as LA. But here’s what we know for sure: 1.) Before the Los Angeles Zoo was built, there used to be a small zoo in Griffith Park. 2.) It was abandoned, but many of the structures were left in place. 3.) Because of the Griffith Park Observatory, this is one of the only parks in LA open after dark. 4.) I will never be visiting.

3. The abandoned south campus of Rancho Los Amigos Hospital
Everyone has their thing that terrifies them most. For some people it’s clowns, or small spaces, or demonic possession. Me, I have a thing about abandoned psychiatric facilities. Particularly creepy, abandoned thirty-years-ago kind of places like the former psychiatric wing of the Rancho Los Amigos.
Founded in 1888 as the County Poor Farm, the southern campus of the still-operating Rancho Los Amigos Hospital once served the impoverished, the diseased, and yes, the mentally ill. The earthquake-damaged southern campus was eventually abandoned in the late 1980’s, and used for law enforcement training.  It’s pitch-black in there, the floors are unstable, and of course, rumor has it there are ghosts. To up the creep factor even further, in 2006 one of those training groups found a freezer full of human limbs. They’d just been forgotten.

2. Hollywood Forever Cemetery
Los Angeles is all about selling: selling yourself, selling an image, selling a dream, selling an experience. When your attitude is that entrepreneurial, you don’t balk at things which other towns might consider taboo…like organizing movie outings in the middle of a cemetery. Hollywood Forever takes its name very seriously, hosting concerts and film screenings among the graves -yes, this includes horror movies. Watching a scary movie while surrounded by the dead? Undeniably creepy.

1. The Cecil Hotel (Now the Stay on Main)
Shirley Jackson’s novel The Haunting of Hill House raises the possibility that some places are just created bad: malevolent, insidious, and just plain wrong.  LA’s answer to this concept has got to be the Cecil Hotel, the location of a number of murders and suicides, plus the inevitable haunting rumors. In 2013, for instance, a 21-year-old Canadian student disappeared from the Cecil. Days later, after hotel residents complained that the tap water tasted funny, the student’s corpse was found floating in the rooftop water tank. The investigation concluded that her death was accidental, but elevator security footage shows her having a passionate argument on the way to the roof – with an invisible force.

Thank you Melissa for giving us such a haunting tour of L.A.!  
To learn more about Melissa F. Olson and her books, please visit her website.  You can add the Scarlett Bernard series here on Goodreads.



What did you think of Marlene's picks for spooky places?
Last week on Paranormal Road Trip we visited Detroit, Michigan with Amber Lynn Natusch.  Next week we'll be traveling to South Tom's River, New Jersey with Shawntelle Madison.

Join us for another spine-tingling Paranormal Road Trip...
if you dare!

Congratulations to Megan H. the winner of our Shades of Chaos Giveaway here at From the Shadows!  Megan will receive an ebook copy of Shades of Chaos, nine dystopian, post-apocalyptic novels by six best-selling authors.

Thank you to all who entered!

*Giveaway winner selected using Random.org*