ROMANCE THAT'S 'OUT OF THIS WORLD' - My own and guest authors' books and anything I feel compelled to share!
Friday, 27 June 2014
On the Roast today...
Tuesday, 24 June 2014
Crossing into the Mystic
It's my great pleasure to welcome D L Koontz to the Flightdeck today, to tell us more about her book and why she writes about the paranormal.
Hi, Lyn. Thanks for letting me join your blog today to talk about Crossing into the Mystic.
First, an overview of the book, for
perspective: After the deaths of her parents and sister, insufferably
independent main character Grace is so grief-stricken that even years later,
when she encounters a ghost, she is charmed into trusting him with the hope of
(1) being able to help him solve his murder, and (2) making contact through him
with her dead family.
As if the thrills and chills of ghosts
and demons aren’t enough, she finds herself embroiled in a love quadrangle –
with two living guys and one dead.
The book addresses the notion that: Now
and then, you see something that alters how you view the world. And, it explores the question: Do ghosts
exist, or are they demons in disguise?
Why
Paranormal?
I’m often asked: Why did you choose to write about paranormal?
I even had someone ask: Why don’t you write about something more believable
than ghosts, like vampires or zombies?
First, to address the second question, I
guess that person felt that the living
dead was more believable than the dead
dead?
No matter; back to the first
question.
First, I’m fascinated with the notion
that we probably don’t see and understand most of what’s around us.
Scientists say that ninety-five percent
of the universe consists of dark matter and dark energy whose fundamental
nature is a mystery. In short, you can’t see most of what’s out there.
Second, I harbor a strong faith in God
and an afterlife, so I also believe in the potential for incredible miracles.
Third, I’ve met countless sane,
successful, intelligent, well-educated people through the years who, in hushed
tones, confess to having encountered a ghost. The revelation is generally accompanied
with an agitation, annoyance, almost an apology, as though they’re concerned
what my reaction will be. Their concern seems to be that I will label them as crazy. Instead, I walked away fascinated
each time.
So, when you merge all that together
your mind can go wild, as mine did.
What’s more, according to Gallup polls,
nine of out ten people believe in God.
And the Harris poll found that fifty-one percent of the public believes
in ghosts. So clearly, there’s an
overlap. I wanted to explore that notion.
The Bible is filled with references to
evil and demons, and Christ repeatedly cast out demons, so I believe the
universe is much more complex and mysterious than it may appear to our senses.
So, are the “ghosts” that Grace
encounters actually demons in disguise? I don’t want to spoil it, so you’ll
have to read the series to find out.
What about you—what do you believe? Ever
experienced an angel? Ever seen a ghost? Do you associate ghosts as
angels/demons?
Crossing
Into the Mystic:
A
Civil War Paranormal Romance
The
Crossings Series
Book
One of a Trilogy
D.L.
Koontz
Genre:
Inspirational Fantasy, paranormal elements
Print Length:
258 pages
ISBN: 1941103030
ASIN: B00J5GSSRM
Publisher: Lighthouse
Publishing
of the Carolinas
Book
Description:
Three years
after losing her family in a car crash, Grace MacKenna is set to inherit her
stepfather's ancestral estate among the mountains of West Virginia. Seeking
solace and healing, Grace discovers the ghost of William Kavanaugh, a dashing
Civil War captain in Virginia s 17th Infantry, haunts the property. When
William charms Grace into investigating the mystery that led to his death a
hundred and fifty years ago, she finds herself drawn into a world of chivalry
and honor, but also deception with secrets too dark to speak aloud.
Meanwhile, Clay
Baxter, home from service in Afghanistan, fights his own demons and ghosts.
When Clay senses Grace falling deeper into the realm of the dead, he seeks to
pull her back. But is he too late?
Torn between her
love for two mysterious young men - one living and one dead - Grace stands in
the shadows of the Antietam Battlefield with a choice: one that could leave
Grace lost forever, "crossing into the Mystic."
Available at Amazon Amazon
Paperback BN
Book Trailer: http://youtu.be/4RKylDUi0sc
Reviews
In Crossing Into
The Mystic, D.L. Koontz makes a very different world real. ~ Ann Vanino
The story is
complex and unexpected and I enjoyed the twists of plot. by Felicia Bowen
Bridges
I kept going
back and reading a sentence, a paragraph, some of the time the whole page.~
Tricia Scoggins
Tour
Giveaway:
About
the Author
D. L. Koontz was
born in Pennsylvania, but with her husband, now splits her time between their
home in mountainous West Virginia and their cattle ranch in coastal plains
Georgia. She has a son and a stepdaughter. A member of ACFW (American Christian
Fiction Writers) and ASJA (American Society of Journalists and Authors), she is
a former journalist, business consultant, spokesperson, and college instructor.
After several non-fiction books, Crossing into the Mystic is her first novel.
Sunday, 22 June 2014
The Rheidol Steam Railway
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| www.Rheidol Railway.co.uk |
You may remember I recently recounted the legend of Devil's Bridge and then last week we were at a steam rally. Today I thought I'd link back to Devil's Bridge, and still continuing the theme of 'steam' tell you a bit about Rheilfordd Cwm Rheidol or the Rheidol Valley Railway. I used to live on a hill overlooking the Rheidol Valley (pronounced Ray-dol') and the River Rheidol winding it's way through the valley and down to the sea. I could also watch the little steam engines on the narrow gauge railway , chugging their way into the mountains, the same mountains where I spent many happy hours long distance horseback riding.Of course I rode on the trains myself, many times, and especially enjoyed taking my niece and nephew on the 'Cowboy Specials' where kids, and often their parents as well, would dress up as cowboys. Then the train would be 'held up' halfway up the mountain by local students dressed up as indians. I'm not sure if they still have the cowboy specials but I do know they run a Halloween train and a Santa special.
The train runs from Aberystwyth to Devils Bridge, where it stops to give visitors time to look around the famous falls, and have a bite to eat, before the homeward journey.
This is what it says on the Rheidol Railway's website:
"Travelling on the Vale of Rheidol Railway is the finest way to explore the stunning Rheidol Valley. Opened in 1902, the railway has been delighting passengers young and old for over a century.
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| The clearing in the trees on the hill behind the train is known locally as 'the stag' |
climb 700ft (200m) in the 11¾ miles from Aberystwyth to Devil's Bridge.
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| Red Kite |
The line is a masterpiece of engineering, opened in 1902 to carry lead ore, timber and passenger traffic. The narrow track gauge allows the railway to follow the contours of the terrain with many sharp curves and steep gradients which add to the railway's charm."
Finally, just so you get the flavour of this enchanting train ride, I'll leave you with the Vale of Rheidol's video
I am endebted to the Vale of Rheidol Railway for their kind permission to use the video and other material on my blog. Should you visit my beautiful homeland of Wales, and be anywhere near Aberystwyth, do book a ride which I can promise you will never forget, through some of the most breathtaking scenery you will find in the whole of the British Isles. You can find out more about the Rheidol Railway by going to their website:
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