Teaser Tuedays: Carmen Stefanescu - Shadows of the Past Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:
• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!
Here's my teaser:
Had his folks talked him into giving her up, made him see reason? Helping her out of her predicament meant a huge risk for him - loosing his family, his friends and his position among his peers.
Shadows of the Past
Publish date: 4th 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?
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.
And... surprise, surprise... here is a short interview with the author of the book, Carmen Stefanescu, if you'd like to know more about her writing.
Share 3 teasers from your book, each consisting of 2 sentences.
1.
Genevieve
wrapped the dark mantle covering her shoulders more tightly around her and
swallowed her fears as they began the cautious ride through the silent forest. They
rode on through the silent night, enveloped by their own silent guilt.
2. "Oh, God.
Please forgive me," Andrew muttered under his breath when he bowed his
head to kiss her and 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.
3. Anne shivered; why
the deep feeling of having seen this place, this forest before and the eerie
sensation of being present here only in the body, while her mind was far away?
Away from Neil, the man who'd betrayed her trust and her love.
Share 3 pieces of
advice for beginning writers like myself.
1. Follow your dream! Read, write.
Read and write. 2. Be civil, good-mannered even towards
editors who reject your manuscript. If they take the time to write you an
explanation, be courteous and thank them. 3. Swallow the bitter tears of
rejection and go on querying. Never give up! In the end your dream will come
true. It's what happened to me!
Why historical fantasy? I
have a fascination for Medieval Times.As the events in Shadows of the Past take place
during Medieval England, I read as much historical info as I could. Especially details regarding life in monasteries. I had
to do a thorough research. I found out quite interesting things. The same I did for Wicca. What Wicca means
and what do Wiccans do and what their view on existence is. My next novel Dracula's Mistress, you know the
fascination this name creates, is again a historical novel. Historical
paranormal. Medieval Romania/Walachia.
You started with poetry, like myself. Share a short poem.
Well, a difficult
decision. I will give you the poem whose first lines are a motto for Shadows
of the Past. By the way, I even have a poem with the same title.
ETERNITY
In the quiet solitude of a
small, remote convent,
Only prayers seem alive on
the lips of holy sisters.
Candles flicker in their
hands like lost souls in search of light,
And the yellowish, faint
glimmer makes a halo' round their whispers.
Era is eternity. Garments,
litany unchanged.
Just a film of smoke on walls
clings mute witness to new faces,
To the passing-by of time, to
deathlessness of love and hope,
To this monolith of faith
heaving over age and spaces!
TORPOR
I learned to love my empty
days
While waiting for the sleep
to come.
Old-fashioned, silly, paper
flowers
float above my head,
flooding the stifling silence;
without questioning myself
I fall asleep in the
moonlight.
Plans, about tomorrow, are
supremely
unimportant !
Author bio:
Carmen
Stefanescu was born in Romania, the native country of the infamous vampire
Count Dracula, but where, for about 50 years of communist dictatorship, just
speaking about God, faith, reincarnation or paranormal phenomena could have led
someone to great trouble - the psychiatric hospital if not to prison. Teacher of English and German
in her native country and mother of two daughters, Carmen Stefanescu survived
the grim years of oppression, by escaping in a parallel world, that of the
books.
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 meant a new
beginning for her. She started publishing. Poems first, and then prose. Both in
English.
It's harder and harder to write haiku about spring when winter is fighting its way back to us! If someone had enough spring and wants to trade it for winter cold and snow,
It's time for The Big Reveal Bloghop hosted by Mina Lobo and David Macaulay. This bloghop is for those who entered the A To Z challenge for April - which is almost here - and it means sharing the Theme for the April A To Z Challenge. So...
So... here it comes: I'm going to use haibun (a classical Japanese writing form that combines text, haiku, tanka and sometimes photos) to write about a familiar place: my home town - Scornicesti, Romania.
What's special about it? Well, the only thing remarcable about Scornicesti is the fact that Nicolae Ceausescu, Romania's dictator was born here.
This means I'm going to share photos, poems inspired by places and events that took place in Scornicesti or are related to it, also including my thoughts about the past ande present. I will also incorporate historical facts, geographic info, travel details and more.
Why did I chose this theme, you might ask. I did it because I wanted to improve the view on Scornicesti, which is unfairly presented as the gate of hell. I also think some people would like to see a great deal of pictures of Scornicesti, the hometown of Nicolae Ceausescu. It isn't a big city - actually, it barely is a city - but it has some ups, too.
The haibun was the best choice in what concerns the writing style because it allows me to switch freely between haiku, tanka, descriptive text, thoughts and pictures.
My tags for April A to Z will be: Scornicesti, Romania, Ceausescu, Nicolae Ceausescu, history, travel, geography, photo, haibun, haiku, haiga, tanka, challence, A to Z challenge.
I must admit, I don't know and I'm curious how well known Scornicesti is outside Romania. feel free to tell me what and if you know about Romania, Scornicesti and Ceausescu.
PS: In April I'm also doing Haiku Heights April challenge which is designed for Ato Z Challenge, so I'll also be adding the haiku written for it in the same post.
Yesterday Christine Rains revealed the cover to her 5th book in "The 13th Floor" series, the first one featuring two of the tenants. And what a beautiful cover that is! If you like paranormal romance, give this series a chance. It's worth it: amazing characters, new approach, surprising writing style!
If you want to know more about Christine's new book visit her blog or read the blurb:
Blurb:Having
fallen for her gorgeous neighbor might not be so bad if Harriet McKay
wasn't in her hideous banshee form every time Kiral saw her. Such is
her curse. True, he's a vampire struggling with a drug addiction, but
he's a good soul. Yet
no one could love a cursed witch, especially one not even her cats
respect.
After
having a vision of Kiral's death, Harriet makes it her mission to
save him. Never before has she attempted to change fate, but so
strong is her love.
How can Harriet convince Kiral to see past
her vile appearance and return her love? If only she can force him to
listen to reason coming from a raving crone, perhaps she can save him
from the demons hunting him and from himself.
Carpe Diem
March 19th prompt - green barley
the clear morning dew
washing the green barley fields -
a pheasant's first cry
NaHaiWriMo
March 19th prompt - shoe
morning walk through parks,
not noticing the spring wind;
horse shoe on my path
* in Romania the horse shoe is supposed to bring good luck to those who find it. In March, in Romania women receive some traditional trinkets, called "Martisor" ([mərtsiʃor]) which are supposed to protect them from evil and bring good luck to the person who wears them. The horse shoe is very popular because of the superstitions around it. The read and white string accompanying a March trinket is supposed to bring strenght and health.
Carpe Diem Special #27 Onitsura's Valley Stream a soft melody - caught between winter and spring, the shy valley stream
NaHaiWriMo March 18th prompt - crime
thinking of the past while having future ahead - crime against nature Top 10 Movies Countdown
This BlogFest is hosted by Alex J Cavanaugh. It was difficult for me to decide to only ten movies but here there are:
10 - Silver Linings
An interesting movie presenting the transformation and addaptation process. IMDB: After a stint in a mental institution, former teacher Pat Solitano moves
back in with his parents and tries to reconcile with his ex-wife.
Things get more challenging when Pat meets Tiffany, a mysterious girl
with problems of her own.
9 - Upside Down
IMDB: Adam and Eden fell in love as teens despite the fact that they live on
twinned worlds with gravities that pull in opposite directions. Ten
years after a forced separation, Adam sets out on a dangerous quest to
reconnect with his love.
8 - Pretty Women
Need I say more? IMDB: Edward is a rich, ruthless businessman who specializes in taking over
companies and then selling them off piece by piece. He travels to Los
Angeles for a business trip and decides to hire a prostitute. They take a
liking to each other and he offers her money if she'll stay with him
for an entire week while he makes the "rich and famous" scene (since it
doesn't do for a man of his stature to be alone at society parties and
polo matches). Romantic comedy (and complications) ensue.
7 In Time
Great story! Great movie! IMDB: In a future where people stop aging at 25, but are engineered to live
only one more year, having the means to buy your way out of the
situation is a shot at immortal youth. Here, Will Salas finds himself
accused of murder and on the run with a hostage - a connection that
becomes an important part of the way against the system.
6 - Knight And Day
IMDB: June Havens finds her everyday life tangled with that of a secret agent
who has realized he isn't supposed to survive his latest mission. As
their campaign to stay alive stretches across the globe, they soon learn
that all they can count on is each other.
5 - Pirates of the Cribbean
IMDB: This swash-buckling tale follows the quest of Captain Jack Sparrow, a
savvy pirate, and Will Turner, a resourceful blacksmith, as they search
for Elizabeth Swann. Elizabeth, the daughter of the governor and the
love of Will's life, has been kidnapped by the feared Captain Barbossa.
Little do they know, but the fierce and clever Barbossa has been cursed.
He, along with his large crew, are under an ancient curse, doomed for
eternity to neither live, nor die. That is, unless a blood sacrifice is
made.
The trailer:
4. - Anna Karenina
IMBD: Set in late-19th-century Russia high-society, the aristocrat Anna
Karenina enters into a life-changing affair with the affluent Count
Vronsky
3 - The Dutchess
An intriguing love story about strenght, personality, decision and politics. IMDB A chronicle of the life of 18th century aristocrat Georgiana, Duchess of
Devonshire, who was reviled for her extravagant political and personal
life.
2 - Stardust
Based on Neil Gaiman's book, Stardust is a great fairy tale which gathers so many mythical, supernatural creatures in an amazing adventure while seaking true love. got to love it!
IMDB:The passage from this world to the fantasy kingdom of Stormhold is
through a breach in a wall beside an English village. In the 1800s, a
boy becomes a man when he ventures through the breech in pursuit of a
fallen star, to prove his love for the village beauty. The star is no
lump of rock, it's a maiden, Yvaine. Tristan, the youth, is not the only
one looking for her: three witches, led by Lamia, want her heart to
make them young; and, the sons of the dead king of Stormhold want her
because she holds a ruby that will give one of them title to the throne.
Assisting Tristan are his mother, the victim of a spell, and a
transvestite pirate of the skies. Will Tristan win his true love?
1 - Pride and Prejudice (2005)
This ecranization is my favorite: it's faithful to Jane Austen's novel and the actors are amazing. Though I doubt that there's someone who hasn't read the book yet I must add that's a Victorian love story with pleanty of emotion and life lessons. All girle secretely want to live such a love story and find a Mr. Darcy.
IMBD: Sparks fly when spirited Elizabeth Bennet meets single, rich, and proud
Mr. Darcy. But Mr. Darcy reluctantly finds himself falling in love with a
woman beneath his class. Can each overcome their own pride and
prejudice? I've seen the movie at least 50 times and it's impossible to get bored of that beautiful love story. I think it's one of the few movies that are better than the book - book lovers out there, don't hate me, but it's true! The trailer and my favorite scene, the perfect ending, of course:
It wasn't easy to pick from so many beautiful movies, but I've finally made my mind. Can't wait to see your lists, guys!
Except from the haiga, none of the ics and videos belong to me - they've been borrowed from the internet.
An interesting movie presenting the transformation and addaptation process.
Based on Neil Gaiman's book, Stardust is a great fairy tale which gathers so many mythical, supernatural creatures in an amazing adventure while seaking true love. got to love it!