Christa Simpson's Blog

“The author takes us on an emotional rollercoaster ride… Yes, I know we are heading into hell in this book and the author explains her version of hell with great detail. I was hooked by the end of chapter one… once you finish the first book you will want to dive right into this book… if you want a series that will keep you on the edge of your seat… this is the series for you.”

– Patricia, Amazon Reviewer

It’s been four years since Linda Bloodworth released her first book, A Raven’s Touch. Now, she’s releasing the sequel, A Raven’s Revenge. I had the opportunity to ask her a few quick questions about it. Check out what she had to say.

Q: What was your writing process like?

Linda: This time I really took my time to research Hell. If someone were to look up my search history they might be concerned. I looked up demon babies, what happens to suicides, various kinds of demons and much more. While I was writing the story I had a literal come to Jesus moment. I suppose one can’t write about angels and demons without letting the subject matter seep in. I lost track of how many times I was sidetracked, going down the rabbit hole to say, and it lead to deep conversations about why we’re here and where we’re going.

Q: I hear the pace in A Raven’s Touch was nothing short of explosive. How does A Raven’s Revenge compare?

 Linda: I like to think that I took some time to perfect my craft. A Raven’s Revenge is ‘slower’, but at the same time the gang faces seriously scary challenges. There is some down time for them to think about what’s going on and what they have to do, but I think I finally got the balance down pat.

 

Q: Readers need to know. Are you considering a spin-off series to explore the chemistry between Tom and Moira?

Linda: I wouldn’t say no to writing Tom and Moira their own stand alone. I do enjoy them. Maybe, and a BIG maybe, I’ll get around to giving them the spotlight they deserve.

 

Q: What’s been your favorite part about writing these books so far?

 Linda: Justice and Moira! I absolutely love these two. No matter what, Moira is there to throw down and back up Justice. Justice has matured and she’s truly becoming a hero stepping up to the scariest challenge. The love between the two of them is so fun to write. They’re in sync with each other and even though they’re growing up, they’re still each other’s number one priority. Who wouldn’t love a ride or die friend?

I agree and am lucky to have a friend like that!

 

Q: A Raven’s Revenge places your characters in hell. What was the hardest part to write about their journey?

Linda: No character is safe in A Raven’s Revenge. It was very painful to write the scenes where the main characters are hurt. I honestly had to take a breather after what I did to Moira. Please don’t hate me.

No guarantees.

I have enlisted the help of Xpresso Tours to celebrate the release of The Black Widow. More about the book follows. Plus, see the giveaway below for your chance to win a $20.00 Amazon Giftcard!

The Black Widow
Christa Simpson
(Dark Secrets Duet #2)
Publication date: October 28th 2019
Genre: Psychological Thriller

Day by day, piece by piece, he puts it all together. What will happen when he finally realizes what I’ve done?

 

There was a time when I thought I was simply a magnet for trouble. Now I know better. If you want to call me the Black Widow, I’m going to own it. You want a monster? I’ll give you one. I’ll alienate you from everything you know and love. You will learn the hard way that evil doesn’t only lurk in our imaginations.

 

The tall, dark and handsome cop would be well-advised to steer clear of me. He knows better than to get tangled in the web I’ve weaved. I warned him. I told him not to mess with me if he values his life. You’re probably wondering what’ll happen when my darkest truths unravel. It’s not my problem anymore. If he sticks around, he will be the author of his own misfortune.

 

Caught in my own dangerous game of elimination, will he be the last nail in my coffin?

Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble / iBooks / Kobo / Smashwords

Special price for release week only!

EXCERPT from Playing House:

Ignorance truly is bliss. My car pulls away from the curb, my tousled hair dancing in the wind as if our autumn is unseasonably warm. You can’t believe everything you see. In all honesty, it’s not that warm. I have a chill running through my body that I can’t escape. I probably would have closed my car window a long time ago, if I could have, but it’s stuck halfway down. I’m just lucky the raincloud over there is keeping its distance. Lucky. Hah! I’m lucky like that man up ahead.

Look at his tidy pile of leaves. He probably spent his entire morning raking those things into a heap next to the curb and is proud of himself for beating the rain. I smirk at the rotund, older man in his front yard. He hasn’t even had enough time to put away his rake. Instead, he stands there proudly, leaning against the handle and scratching his overfed belly. I can’t resist. Someone has handed this opportunity to me, and I simply can’t pass it up.

My foot presses deeper into the accelerator, thrusting my small car forward. I glare at the old man from beneath dark lashes. His eyes immediately connect with mine, begging me to rethink what I’m about to do. That only encourages me further. I veer toward the pile, blasting through the leaves and cheering with a crazed depth to my voice.

“Woooooo!”

I feel so alive. When the old man stumbles after me, frantically waving his hands with leaves raining around him, I smile harder. A smile. For the longest time, I forgot my mouth could even do that. It feels like my world has shifted, though, and maybe, just maybe things are looking up for me. I force the images of my tormented childhood down, forgetting about my mother’s wasted apologies and the gurgling sound that came from my father’s throat when he drowned before my very eyes. I’ve blown through enough of my life boo-hooing over them. No more.

I carry on down the road, wearing a real smile—not the fake one I wore throughout my unfortunate youth, being spread between perverted foster fathers and overbearing relatives who wanted to make themselves feel better by sporadically treating me like family. No, remembering how I was pawned off to the system never helps. This is why my smiles never last long.

With a deep breath, my smile wilts, but I remind myself that I’m not a teenager anymore. I’m finally free of those people and their unanswered promises. No one’s in charge of my destiny but me. I have to grab life by the balls and make shit happen. Just because my late parents had a few screws loose, doesn’t mean I have to be stuck in my own self-inflicted hell, right? Right?

I pause at a yellow light and proceed into the intersection, flicking on my left turn signal as I make the turn in front of an oncoming sports car. It’s a dumb move. Traffic is thick, and the dude driving the small, black car is in a hurry to go nowhere. He swerves around my rear bumper and lays on his horn. I flip him the bird and hold it there for a few long seconds, completely lost in my own world. I forget to reacquaint myself with the car in front of me. Traffic is now at a standstill.

I quickly jam onto my brake, but I’m screwed. My balding tires argue with the pavement and make a loud screeching noise while my front-end slams into the car in front of me. A loud popping noise is the only warning I have before wearing a face full of airbag. I don’t care if it looks like a fluffy cloud; it feels like a brick wall, and I wonder if I have a broken nose. I struggle to breathe as I push the bag out of my face and clutch at my nose, sighing deeply, choking on the stale air.

Way to go, Clarisse.

“Are you okay?” a man shouts, reaching through my half-open window and tearing my car door from its hinges to pull me free of the wreckage. He thinks my window is broken because of the accident, and I’m going to let him keep on thinking that.

I’m still holding my nose when I collapse into his arms and look up into apologetic eyes. “I’ve had better days,” I admit.

“But you’re alive.”

The corners of my lips quirk upwards oh so slightly. “There’s that.”

He helps me right myself, and I push off of him once I regain my footing. “My bumper didn’t even see you coming,” he says with a smile.

I assess the damage. My scrappy little car is banged up pretty good, but it’ll drive. The back end of his car sits on the ground in a heap of ruin. “Is it true that they can pick that thing up and reattach it?” I ask, already knowing the answer.

“I don’t know. See the way the fender is curled under. That’ll be a hard fix.”

I nod, wondering if I should throw my entire first year of college away and run for the hills. The dark cloud that had been following me finally catches up. My eyes wander to the bystanders who scatter for cover as droplets of rain start to pelt the pavement.

“I can’t afford to fix your car.” I look back to him, trying not to admire his clean-cut military hairstyle. “I’m sorry but I just can’t.”

His eyes sink into mine while he thinks on it, the rain quickly dampening his clothes and mine. He takes my hand to get my attention. It works.

“What do you say we talk to these nice policemen over here and then I take you out for a coffee? I’m sure we can work something out.”

Author Bio:

Christa Simpson is the Bestselling Author of contemporary romances with a twist and dark, twisty psychological thrillers. Her stories are loaded with passion, suspense and sarcasm. She’s a small-town Canadian girl living in Southwestern, Ontario, with her husband and two beautiful daughters. Check out her stories and get ready for some emotionally charged entertainment!

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram / Pinterest / Newsletter

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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From Goodreads:When you read this book, you will make many assumptions.

You will assume you are reading about a jealous ex-wife.

You will assume she is obsessed with her replacement – a beautiful, younger woman who is about to marry the man they both love.

You will assume you know the anatomy of this tangled love triangle.

Assume nothing.

Twisted and deliciously chilling, Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen‘s The Wife Between Us exposes the secret complexities of an enviable marriage – and the dangerous truths we ignore in the name of love.

Read between the lies.

MY REVIEW:

I love a good domestic thriller. This story was twisty and intelligent, cleverly written and filled with unexpected twists and turns. The Wife Between Us is one thought-provoking book, and apparently I’m a bad book detective.

I did not see that first plot twist coming at all. I actually had to flip back a few pages to reread the end of Part One and see if I had misread something. Nope! I was thankful for that first big twist, though, because the pace picked up to my speed from there and swiftly became a page-turner.

“You need to remember that even when I’m not there, I’m with you.”

Creepy, much?! That one line sent chills down my spine. No, it’s not meant to be sweet or romantic. I saw right through that from the start. The mental illness and emotional abuse in this story was all too believable.

All I can say, without giving the main plot points away, is things are not always what they seem.

This book seems to have received mixed reviews, which is what made me so curious about it. It was a solid 4 star read for me. I think you really have to read it for yourself to be the judge of that.

If you have read the book, what did you think?

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Did you know Playing House is a domestic thriller too?

Readers are saying, if you enjoyed The Wife Between Us by Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen, you will enjoy Playing House and The Black Widow!

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It’s been four long years since Linda Bloodworth released her first book, A Raven’s Touch. Today, I’m revealing two new covers for her with special news to follow!

A Raven’s Touch
Justice St. Michaels has a secret. Not only is she the Heaven’s chosen one, but none of her friends are even human. Justice meets mysterious stranger, Darien Raventhorn who says she holds the key to his curse. To avenge a family death, Justice must embrace her birthright, and slay a demon before all Hell breaks loose.

A snippet of A Raven’s Touch:

It started two days ago.

Every night, I hoped to wake up in my bed. Instead, the sound of rushing water always caught my attention. Tiny droplets of mist kissed my skin. Pine needles pricked my bare feet as I shuffled along. This certainly wasn’t my bedroom. The ever-shifting twilight surrounded me. What was I doing in the Rouge Valley forest, again?

A streak of pain crackled through my body, and my head snapped forward. I let out a scream as my back burned like it was on fire. A flock of small birds took to the sky, causing the leaves to shudder. I hugged myself as if I could stop the throbbing. My entire body felt like a fresh wound. With tears in my eyes, I looked up to the Heavens for guidance, but the silence was deafening. To my left, little feet hopped through the bush. I could only imagine what I must have looked like, with long, black hair strung about my pale face, and the dark circles I’d had of late. I’d run away from me, too.

I staggered and wobbled my way to the closest tree, since my feet were half-asleep and not cooperating. The minute my back made contact with the rough bark, a fresh surge of pain bloomed, and I breathed fast and hard to stop myself from passing out.

“Please, just stop,” I begged through the tears.

For a blessed moment, the pain subsided. I let out a deep breath of gratitude. Slowly, something trickled down my back. That didn’t feel like sweat. My hand scrambled like a live wire to investigate. Immediately I felt my fingers become covered in blood, and the rich smell of copper flooded my senses. My fingers circled around to find two bone-hard lumps. Investigating further I felt around them, and I figured they were each the size of a split English muffin. Not too large, but definitely there. I was bleeding again.

“What the…?” I pushed myself off the tree, and my stomach churned from the wet-Velcro sound.

The sun was starting to peek through the tall pines. I was about half a mile from my house. I stepped away from the tree and bit back the urge to throw up. I didn’t even want to think about my blood- crusted back. I had to get home. Every bone in my body wanted to rest, but there was no way I was staying here. Thank goodness the county voted for street lamps, or I really would be lost. My shadow on the pavement stretched far and danced out to the next spotlight. The one-dimensional version of myself was footloose and fancy-free. What I wouldn’t give to not have dangerous night-walking spells.

Soon enough, I was walking up my driveway and heading for the side door. My hand wrapped around the handle, and I quietly pushed the door open. Living in the boonies, we’d never locked our doors, and at this point, I was grateful for small favors. I avoided the squeaking tiles and tiptoed up the stairs to my bedroom, then headed straight into my bathroom. I stripped off my clothes, leaving them like a breadcrumb trail to the shower. As I tried to remove my T-shirt, I winced; my back muscles hurt so bad I almost screamed out. Finally, I managed to shimmy the shirt over my head. The back was ripped and reeked of copper. Wrinkling my nose in disgust, I balled it up and tossed it in the garbage.

In the safety of my shower, I turned on the water and let it wash over me. Ever so gently, I touched my back and felt the broken skin where the two lumps protruded. What on earth could they be? My breath quickened and I started feeling lightheaded. Keep it together, Justice. I leaned my forehead against the tile and felt my face relax.

If I told my parents I’d been sleep walking again, they’d probably install a camera and an alarm system. There goes all my privacy. Maybe, if it got worse, I’d go see Moira’s mom. The cuts weren’t deep, but the flesh was tender. My tears mingled with the red water as I curled up in a ball. I winced. Even the water stung. My hand fumbled along the wall to find the soap. I lifted my face to channel the water out of my eyes. A tiny red river flowed down the drain.

It was too humid, and I was starting to prune. I turned off the water but remained crouched. The adrenaline leaving my body made me feel like a liquid pool of flesh, devoid of bone. As hard as I tried to remember, I had no idea what was happening to me, or how I got out to the river. Was this what it was like to survive a train wreck?

A Raven’s Revenge
Hell hath no fury like an angel scorned. Justice St. Michaels is on a mission from God to avenge her parents’ death, even if it means hunting demon Seliki to the depths of Hell. Justice and her powerful friends won’t back down until His will is done. Can an angel, witch, vampire and elf take on Hell and come out alive?

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A snippet of A Raven’s Revenge:

Something’s wrong.

I opened my eyes to pitch-black nothingness. Moving my shoulders, I felt the familiar weight of my backpack. At least that made it through, but where the heck was everyone? Was Hell supposed to be this dark? Sure, I didn’t expect a red, cloven-hoofed devil holding a pitchfork to greet me.

I reached out, hoping to find a clue as to where my friends were, but only felt air. I stretched my foot forward, then stopped. For all I knew, there could be a cliff right in front of me. Yes, I had a heart full of faith, but I wasn’t going to take stupid risks, especially not here.

A cold sweat ran down my spine; breath caught in my throat, heart pounding like crazy. Thudthudthudthud. I pressed a hand to my chest, somehow thinking it could force my heart to slow. Instead, heat flared on the back of my neck as electrifying panic spread through my body. Something about being surrounded by darkness triggered an alarm in my brain.

No. Not here. Not now.

Each gasp for air felt like a gulp of water as I drowned in anxiety.

It can’t end this way.

Falling to my knees, I closed my eyes. “Darien,” I croaked in between breaths, saying my friends’ names like a prayer. “Moira. Tom.”

The second I saw their faces in my mind’s eye, my heart slowed, my anxiety subsiding. Exhaling slowly, I focused on them as if they were my lifeline.

Darien, with his playful smile and soulful grey eyes. I could get lost in them forever. Never did I imagine someone like him would love me, or vice versa. Who dates a vampire? He was a suave guy with a maturity beyond anyone I knew. The pebbles he’d throw at my window might as well have been him loudly declaring his love for the neighborhood to hear. The charming note he wrote me, how he leapt in front of me to take Seliki’s knives to the face, when he used his powers to deflect the sheriff… It all showed me he was in it for the long haul.

Even when I was a broken, sobbing mess after my parents died, he was there for me. Never once did he try to take advantage, even though he could have turned me into his slave. Instead, he gave me all the power, let me decide how far I wanted to go. Now he was in Hell because of it.

I clenched my fists in frustration. How could I do this to him? How could I drag my friends down with me?

Moira… My sweet, vivacious, spirited Moira, who stood by my side no matter what. Always ready to fight bullies, demons, whatever came our way. She saved me in more ways than I could count. Who needed a sister when I had a friend like her? Why she hid her magic, I’d never understand, but it came in handy. She was always ready to follow me. And now look where it got her.

Tom, a gentle giant with a huge heart. That little boy with sky-blue eyes and corn silk hair, who grew way past six feet tall. With a swoon-worthy smile, it was no wonder Moira fell for him like a stone. At least something good came out of my tragedy.

I stifled a sob when my thoughts settled on my parents. Seliki pushed them beyond their powers. To think their last thoughts were to protect me. I gritted my teeth. Never would I feel that helpless again. If Seliki wanted a battle, she had one coming.

Slowly, the heat left my body like a fleeting whisper. When I fluttered my wings, I barely heard them, the room (or wherever I was) … muffled the sound.

Where in hell am I?

Special News: A RAVEN’S REVENGE PRE-ORDER IS NOW LIVE!!! For a limited time pick up A Raven’s Touch for $0.99.

BONUS: If you pick up the paperback, for either book, the ebook version is FREE!

Linda Bloodworth is a Canadian writer–like me! She’s from Toronto, Ontario.

FOR MORE INFO ABOUT LINDA BLOODWORTH, VISIT HER HERE:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LindaBloodworthWriter
Book group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/lindasbloodletters/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/LindaBloodworth
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lindabloodworth/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8289417.Linda_Bloodworth

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Title: The Black Widow

Author: Christa Simpson

Genre: Psychological Thriller

Series: Dark Secrets Duet

Release Date: October 28, 2019

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BLURB

Day by day, piece by piece, he puts it all together. What will happen when he finally realizes what I’ve done?

There was a time when I thought I was simply a magnet for trouble. Now I know better. If you want to call me the Black Widow, I’m going to own it. You want a monster? I’ll give you one. I’ll alienate you from everything you know and love. You will learn the hard way that evil doesn’t only lurk in our imaginations.

The tall, dark and handsome cop would be well-advised to steer clear of me. He knows better than to get tangled in the web I’ve weaved. I warned him. I told him not to mess with me if he values his life. You’re probably wondering what’ll happen when my darkest truths unravel. It’s not my problem anymore. If he sticks around, he will be the author of his own misfortune.

Caught in my own dangerous game of elimination, will he be the last nail in my coffin?

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AVAILABLE FOR PRE-ORDER AT THE FOLLOWING RETAILERS!
| BARNES & NOBLE | KOBO | APPLE | SMASHWORDS | AMAZON |

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The most unputdownable psychological thriller you’ll read this year from the bestselling author Christa Simpson. If you love THE WIFE BETWEEN US by A.J. Finn or THE TURN OF THE KEY by Ruth Ware, you’ll be totally hooked on THE BLACK WIDOW.

ADD TO GOODREADS!

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Christa Simpson is the Bestselling Author of contemporary romances with a twist and dark, twisty psychological thrillers. Her stories are loaded with passion, suspense and sarcasm, much like her life. She’s a small-town Canadian girl living in Southwestern, Ontario, with her husband and two beautiful daughters. Check out her stories and get ready for some emotionally charged entertainment!

| www.christasimpson.com |
| Twitter | Facebook | Pinterest | Goodreads | Amazon | Instagram | LinkedIn |

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Mark your calendars. The Black Widow hits online shelves on October 28! Get started on the book 1 today!

You probably thought I fell off the face of this earth because I haven’t had any new releases for two long years! But guess what? The sequel to Playing House is finally complete!

This duet has been so wild and intense that… I didn’t know if I was ready to unleash it into the world!

WELL, I’M READY!

How about I tell you about the amazing opportunity I have to offer you today?! That’s coming right up.

Hard to believe it’s already been two years since I last put a new book out into this world. For that reason alone, I want to do everything I can for this book. And, as you probably already know, when I go underground, I go in all the way and don’t emerge until I have something freaking awesome to share.

 

How Would You Like to Read My Next Book for Free?

I’m only one month away from launching my next book, The Black Widow: A Psychological Thriller. I can’t lie… I’m super excited about this one, and the launch is going to be huge. Where do you come into this equation?

JOIN MY LAUNCH TEAM!

I plan to pick a handful of special people from my Review Team to form my “Book Launch Team” to help me get the word out. Those readers will get to read two books, if they wish, since The Black Widow is book 2 in a Duet. Since this book is brand spanking new, if you sign up, you will be one of the first readers to set eyes on an Advance Reader Copy of this sequel. I also have these beautiful paperbacks sitting here and I want to reward those who help me out. Interested?

FIRST… Be fair warned, this collection of books is a dark psychological thriller. The Dark Secrets Duet is trigger heavy and has pushed some people out of their comfort zone. The Duet exposes the results of childhood trauma, emotional abuse, loss of a spouse/child, depression, vengeful infidelity, violence, and mental illness. If you can handle that, then step right up.

YES, ME PLEASE. SHOW ME THE FORM!

Even with all the drama, readers are calling Clarisse Blackwell’s self-destructive spiral “so relatable and human”. Here’s what other readers had to say about Book 1 in this Duet:

Not Yet Convinced?
HERE’S WHAT YOU GET AS A LAUNCH TEAM MEMBER:

1) Complimentary electronic copy of Playing House: A Black Widow Novel, Dark Secrets Duet, #1;
2) Complimentary electronic copy of The Black Widow: A Psychological Thriller, Dark Secrets Duet, #2, weeks before anyone else can get it;
3) Membership into my private reader group on Facebook; where you get exclusive access to me and your fellow VIPs; and
4) An opportunity to be rewarded with an autographed paperback or two.

HERE’S ALL YOU HAVE TO DO:

1) Read the books and leave a short, honest book review during the book’s launch week (between October 27-November 02, 2019);
2) Do at least one thing on your blog or social media to spread the word. You could send a tweet, mention you’re reading the book on Facebook, upload a pic on Instagram or share one of my lovely graphics. Whatever you want!

Of course, if you want to do other things to help the launch be a great success, like buy copies of the book for friends, Like my Facebook posts, Retweet my tweets, convince your friends to read the books, or send me chocolates—I won’t object!

So does this sound awesome or what? I’m only choosing 25 people to participate and I already have a solid 5 I’ve approved, so if you’re interested, please sign up right away. I’m putting a ton of time and energy into this launch so please take this seriously and only sign up if you can get your review(s) up between October 27 and November 02. I hope to see you in the VIP reader group!

YES, THE FORM PLEASE!

There are a lot of people who never read Playing House, because they are in bad relationships, who could really use this. I am determined to get the Dark Secrets Duet into the hands and minds of the people who need it. Are you with me?

Step up here: https://forms.gle/nMLceSGHBMTqZDC9A 

Excited to share more with you!

 

All the Best,

Christa

Queen of All Things Dark and Twisted

 

P.S. Will you join a special posse to spread the word about The Black Widow? Remember, you get two e-books, one of them before everyone else, entry into my private reader group, and the chance to win autographed paperbacks.

Jump on it quickly! Once the team room is full, I’ll have to close the doors. I hope you’ll join me!

NOTE: No matter where you live, you can be part of the Twisted Sisters Street Team, as long as you have a phone or other electronic device and WiFi.

It’s been years since I’ve asked something like this, so every response means a lot. And your help will not go unrewarded. Street Team members will receive special gifts and opportunities for each completed mission–from an exclusive look at the first chapters of The Black Widow to never-before-released videos:

The full list of missions is up here – opportunity ends soon

 

Do you think someone else might like to join the team? Please share this post!

Constant worrying, negative thinking, and always expecting the worst can take a toll on your emotional health.

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Here are 4 Simple Steps to Help You Worry Less:

Acknowledge, observe, and write down your worries, forget about them, and get back to regular programming.

Schedule a worry time to go over your worries for a short period of time every day (if need be).

Challenge your anxious thoughts during your worry time by asking yourself…

Is it true?
Is there a more positive way of looking at the situation?
Will worrying help things?
What would you say to a friend having this worry?

Stay mindful. Pay attention to your body. Breathe. Stay active. Focus on the present, and break the negativity cycle!

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The books in the Dark Secrets Duet are the perfect example of what happens to people without good support systems. Check out Playing House: A Black Widow Novel to see firsthand how anxiety and depression can affect a person.

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www.christasimpson.com/Playing-House

Please tell me your secrets to reducing anxiety and reveal your top habits for beating depression in the comments!

— Christa Simpson

My new book is releasing soon and the cover reveal is coming in one week! For now I’ll leave you with this fun little teaser…

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The Black Widow: A Psychological Thriller by Christa Simpson (Dark Secrets Duet, #2)

#psychological
#thriller
#women
#serialkiller
#murder
#fastpaced
#darksoul

Check back on September 30 for the full cover reveal! Until then…

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If you’re a blogger looking for a media kit, or if you want to get involved in the new release, please view the schedule here:

INTEREST FORM


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Whenever I think of self care, I instantly recall the emergency instructions given by flight attendants before an airplane takes off.

Before you help others, you must first help yourself.

In my experience, helping others is next to impossible when there’s turbulence in your own life. If you can’t manage your own situation, how can you possibly help others with theirs?

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Photo by Jerry Zhang on Unsplash

Well, I challenge you to take care of yourself first this week. I know it can be hard. I’m a mom, wife, daughter and sister too. It’s the second week of school. Homework and forms and meetings. Oh my! And those work deadlines!

Oh, but I dare you to try.

Get 8 hours of sleep tonight.
Wake up 30 minutes earlier than you have to tomorrow.
Eat breakfast.
Bag a lunch.
Drink water.
Exercise 30 minutes a day.
Eat a healthy dinner.
Organize a closet.
Get rid of something you don’t need.
Cuddle with your pet.
Enjoy a coffee.
Read a book.
Phone a friend.
Take a deep breath and…
SMILE.

Progress, not perfection.

Let’s face it. Self-care, gratitude, and the secret to happiness is within you.

You have so many reasons to be grateful today. Do you have a roof over your head, food on the table, good health, parents, a partner, friend, coworkers, or pets?

Focusing on the bad–what we don’t have–is easy. It’s way harder to remember all the things we take for granted every day, but we must remember to be thankful for all those little things.

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There are things some of us forget are a luxury, like Netflix, smart phones, and internet. Hey, I’m not pointing any fingers, I was guilty too.

I was forced to go without internet for a week this year, which meant no phone, television, social media, music streaming or internet surfing for me! My kids sure figured it out fast that WE’RE LUCKY! No, we’re not loaded, but unlimited internet isn’t an opportunity afforded to everyone. It’s not free, like many kids believe. We pay for that luxury (and handsomely, I might add).

My kids rediscovered the library pretty quickly. They got out of the house a lot! They cruised up town on their rollerblades or bicycles a few times a day to use the library’s WiFi to “send streaks” on Snapchat, to record yet another TikTok, or to watch the latest YouTube video that they couldn’t miss. Apparently, our lack of internet was ruining their lives. Suddenly, Tim Horton’s WiFi wasn’t so bad after all.

After the week “from hell” was up, my youngest daughter informed me that now she had 100 YouTube videos to catch up on, and she wasn’t exaggerating… much. My oldest survived, but was happy when she didn’t have to leave her bedroom as often. Teasing! Kind of.

My husband and I, though, had the opposite reaction. Suddenly, we wanted to simplify our life, wondering when we had become so frivolous with our money. He learned that he didn’t need data on his phone, and I realized that I wouldn’t die if I missed a few episodes from Netflix Originals. I wasn’t happy, LOL, but it wasn’t life threatening. In fact, I’ve since cancelled Netflix (not indefinitely), Amazon Prime (bye bye music), and my husband cancelled his data plan on his phone, which apparently is practically unheard of in this day and age. I tried to lower my data package on my phone and was informed that my share plan has less data offered than the smallest plan Bell Canada can offer me now. I can’t wait for that contract to end! No more throwing away money I could be saving for my kids education.

Are you wondering what other things you might be taking advantage of? I’ve made a short list for you.

Hot water flowing into your home and electricity to light it.
A full belly and food in the fridge.
Clean water to drink.
Pets who deliver unconditional love.
Mistakes we have learned from.
Having a home, period.
The ability to read.
Fresh air to breathe.
A bed to sleep in.

Oh! I have another good one. Indoor plumbing! We visited some friends up North this summer and they have a trailer, but it’s parked on bare land. Lots of trees, rocks, and nature–IT’S BEAUTIFUL IN BRUCE COUNTY!— but no flowing water, sewers or plumbing on the land. Be thankful that you have a flushable toilet, if you have one. Consider yourself lucky you don’t have to relieve yourself in a bucket (I didn’t do this for the record.), or go outside to a bush or or a stinky outhouse to pee!

What about a computer, a phone, an internet connection? Free access to daily inspiration. Books to read! Books bring you the opportunity to live another life, or visit another world, all from the comfort of your own home. Don’t forget that.

As you can see, there’s lots to be thankful for. Let’s focus on the good and let go of the bad. You never know what good opportunities to let happiness into your life you are missing out on while you are busy obsessing about how terrible your life is.

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Photo by Jenn Evelyn-Ann on Unsplash

It may be standard habit to worry about what’s not right in our lives, but let’s change that. Mindset is incredibly important and, believe you me, you have the superpower to change things in a big way. Gratitude is a mood that you can inject into your life today. Give it a try. What have you got to lose?

Every accomplishment starts with the decision to try.

Tell me, what are you thankful for? Let me know in the comments, and take care of yourself!

P.S. Self-care is the fuel that allows you to shine brightly. An empty tank will take you no where. Take the time to refuel!

Was this book well-written? Of course it was. Hello… Stephen King. What I wasn’t expecting from King was a heart-warming, small town drama.

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Elevation by Stephen King has been categorized by the publisher as a supernatural thriller, under both literary and suspense sub-categories… so just don’t go in expecting a horror story, as I did. A horror, it was not.

This book is best described as unusual. The premise of the story aroused my curiosity. The idea that you could continuously lose weight, while being filled with energy and enthusiasm for life, intrigued me. I never lost interest in the storyline, clinging on for day ZERO, but, in the end, this novella felt like chapter one of a King novel. It was a super short read, which is great–time is valuable!!–but it also fell short of amazing for me.

Reviews seemed to be mixed for this one. I’d love to hear your take on it in the comments.

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