A website dedicated to books in the Young Adult genre, featuring book reviews, author interviews contests and much more!


Thursday, April 21, 2011

Guest Post & Giveaway with Debra Glass, Author of Haunted

Today I'd like to welcome Debra Glass, author of the YA novel Haunted. Debra stopped by today to talk about writing paranormal romance and the inspiration behind it. See below for details on your chance to win an e-copy of Haunted.

http://ghostlyeverafter.files.wordpress.com/2010/10/haunted-ebook.jpg



Haunted by Debra Glass

Can a heart still love once it stops beating?

My hopes of having a normal life died when I did. Especially since my near death experience turned me into a clairvoyant with a disfiguring scar. Not exactly most-popular material.

Now, because of me, my whole family has been forced to move to some small town in Tennessee. My parents think a quiet new school and a new set of friends will heal me of the scars I carry both inside and out.

There’s just one problem. I’m being haunted by Jeremiah Ransom, the charming ghost of a Civil War soldier who lived and died in my house. His presence makes me feel perfect. As if there’d never been a wound in the first place.

But I’m afraid that loving him will result in my death all over again.


Making Magic - Haunted by Debra Glass

Teen and young adult paranormals are hot. Why? Because they draw us into a magical world with fantastical and larger than life characters. Characters we’d love to meet, to have as friends, or to fall in love with.


Some of my favorite books and movies continually inspire me to write paranormal stories. Remember the scene in Edward Scissorhands where Edward is carving the ice sculpture and making snow while Wynona Ryder’s character dances in the flakes? Magical. What about the scene in Twilight where Edward sparkles? Along with Bella, I thought he was beautiful, too. When he took her along on a piggyback ride up to the treetops, I sighed and longed for such magic in my life. 

Since the Arthurian legends, magic has fascinated us. We are enthralled by shape shifters, immortals, time-travelers, and ghosts. These creatures are not parts of our everyday lives. So, why are we willing to suspend our reason, and for the duration of a movie or a book, believe?

In romance, magic adds an extra layer of dimension to otherworldly characters. Anything is possible. The mundane becomes wondrous. Danger and conflict are heightened. There is more at stake, more obstacles to overcome before love can conquer all.

In my young adult paranormal romance, Haunted, Wren Darby is a girl with a troubled past. She is haunted by far more than the handsome ghost of Jeremiah Ransom, a Civil War soldier, who lived and died in the house she and her family now occupy. But her relationship with Jeremiah helps Wren to overcome her fears and to heal in myriad ways.

In this excerpt from Haunted, Jeremiah’s ghost has invited Wren to experience a thunderstorm in the attic of the antebellum house in which she lives:


~ “Close your eyes, Wren.” It was not a request.

My heart pounded but I acquiesced. My lashes gently fluttered to my cheeks and with anticipation coursing through me, I stood, waiting. I breathed in the musty scent of the attic mingled with the fresh fragrance of rain as my mind ran wild. Intuitively, I knew he hadn’t moved. Not even an inch.

My body tingled from his energy but when I opened my mouth to remark on it, a shard of lightning spiraled toward the earth.

I tensed. The old house trembled.

Electricity fired through my veins. Every hair on my body rose as if I’d somehow become one with the energy of the lightning. Without opening my eyes, I smiled.

“You felt it!” he exclaimed.

My eyes snapped open. “Yes, yes, I did!” I cried, giddy with excitement. I looked down at my arms and hands and then back up at Jeremiah.

He seemed almost human in the shadows, as if his form had taken on more substance.

Looking at him in the dim light, I found it all too easy to forget he was a ghost. I gnawed my bottom lip, wild with the desire to touch him.

“What was it like?” he asked.

My gaze found his. “It felt like…you.”

He stared for so long that I thought my hasty remark had embarrassed him. At the very least, I’d embarrassed myself. A hot blush crept into my cheeks. “I…I should be getting back downstairs. If Ella wakes up­-­-”

“She’s not awake,” he interrupted quickly.

My lips closed. Shaking from head to toe, I realized he hadn’t given me a choice. Hope welled that he might be as interested in me as I was in him but I refused to think past this enchanted moment.

“Hold your hand up,” he said.

Cold chills washed over me but I complied with his request, bringing my right hand up, palm facing Jeremiah. My resolve swerved as his gaze held mine whole. He lifted his own hand.

He intended to touch me!

It was going to happen, and waiting for it was the most intense, torturous pleasure I had ever known. Some part of me knew this moment would remain indelibly etched in my brain for the rest of my life and beyond. The breath left my lungs in a ragged rush as he moved his hand closer and closer until our palms were a mere two inches apart.

“Do you feel me now?” he asked, his eyes still linked with mine.

I gave an imperceptible nod. Energy radiated from his hand until I experienced the same sensation of holding two powerful magnets close to one another. Resistance sparked like an invisible barrier between us and I knew that if he moved his hand one millimeter closer to mine, the resistance would miraculously transform into instant attraction. Part of me thrilled at the idea of touching him. Another part of me feared he wouldn’t feel human.

Or worse, that I wouldn’t feel him at all.

His eyes narrowed slightly. “I feel fear from you. And something else…”

My heart sank and just as I started to withdraw my hand, he reached out. The magnetic resistance became an irresistible draw that pulled his hand to mine with the power of a vice. I gasped as his fingers laced between mine, as I felt an unmistakable energy grip my hand.

He drew in a jagged breath, his gaze fixed on our joined hands. When his eyes met mine to gauge my reaction, a half smile claimed his lips. “Do you feel that?” he asked.

Trying in vain to swallow, I nodded and, unable to hold his gaze, I looked once more at our entwined fingers. His index finger brushed my knuckle and I wanted to melt on the spot.

“I’ve never been able to touch anyone before,” he said, his voice hoarse. “Anyone who could feel it.”

My breaths came in shallow, quick gasps. I feared I would hyperventilate. If he could touch my hand, could he kiss me, too? Or more? Warmth trickled downward inside me despite the chill in the attic.

And then, common sense prevailed.

What was I thinking? I was scarred outside and in. I was responsible for the death of my best friend. I didn’t deserve this. ~

Contest!
What are some of your favorite magical scenes from books or movies? Leave a comment to be entered in a drawing for a free pdf copy of Haunted! Contest ends May 5th

For more information on Haunted, check out my website at http://ghostlyeverafter.wordpress.com
Buy Haunted from Amazon
 
About the author:
DEBRA GLASS is the author of over fifteen books of historical and paranormal romance, non-fiction, young adult romance, and folklore. The recipient of the National Society of Arts and Letters Alabama Screenwriter Award in 1992, she went on to win the NSAL Empire State Award for excellence in screenwriting.

Debra is a member of Romance Writers of America, the Professional Authors’ Network, and Passionate Ink. She is also a member of RWA’s Heart of Dixie chapter. She lives in Alabama with her real life hero, a couple of smart-aleck ghosts, and a diabolical black cat.
History for the Taking ~ http://DebraGlass.com
More Than a Mistress - LSR BEST BOOK - Passionate Plume Finalist
Twice the Novice - NOR TOP PICK
Official Website

12 comments:

Debra Glass said...

Thanks for letting me hijack your blog, Kim! I'm looking forward to reading the comments.

Anonymous said...

My favourite magical scenes? Well, who could step past Harry's first glimpse of Hogwarts? All of a sudden, the Muggle world is shed and we're introduced to the magical world, where anything can (and does) happen. Nothing before or since has brought the same feeling to heart as that scene in the first Harry Potter movie.

Aydrea said...

So I have never heard of this book, but now I definitely want to read it! That scene really pulled me and I am intrigued.

As far as a favorite magical scene, I would say the floating lights scene in Tangled (where they are in the boat, the singing etc), so adorable! There are so many good ones in books too.

Thanks for the great contest, I would love to win!

danceislove27(at)gmail(dot)com

dancealertreads.blogspot.com said...

I'm not sure a magical moment, I guess that would have to be the first scene of the "Time Travelers Wife" when he appears to her as a little girl and then disappears.

I follow by gfc and email subscription...

dancealert at aol dot com

Victoria Roder said...

Haunted sounds like my kind of book, Debra. I wish you the best with it. I have to mention the movie ghost. When Demi Moore's character relizes it is her husband's ghost.

SandyG265 said...

I like the magic scenes from the Harry Potter movies.

sgiden at verizon.net

Unknown said...

I can't really think of any magical scenes right now. Please enter me in contest. I really want to read this book. Tore923@aol.com

Meredith said...

I like the conflict scenes in the last couple Harry Potter movies!

meredithfl at gmail dot com

Sarah said...

I really enjoyed the duel between Voldemort and Dumbledore in Order of the Phoenix. It was very descriptive and exciting. I also love how Arielle in The Little Mermaid has the ability to turn into a mermaid and human back and forth. XD

Sarah
two_of_hearts_101 at yahoo dot com

mamabunny13 said...

I love when the pumpkin turns into a carriage for Cinderella. :)
mamabunny13 at gmail dot com

Hoot aka Jessy said...

I think the scenes in Lord of the Rings with Gandolf doing magic is great fun.

hootowl1978 at gmail dot com.

Debra Glass said...

Thank you all so much for the comments. (I think that pumpkin into a coach scene in Cinderella made us all love magic) And congrats to Aydrea who won the free download of Haunted. Enjoy!!