It’s a magical night for a party.
Beautiful couples dance
between the glass statues.
Fancy gowns drape the perfect bodies.
The glasshouse shimmers in the moonlight.
The party is perfect.
A little too perfect.
THE DEAD GAME
Showing posts with label amwriting. Show all posts
Showing posts with label amwriting. Show all posts
Thursday, May 18, 2023
Thursday, October 14, 2021
HAIKU OF DEATH
Separate - 180425The void swallows me.
I fall into the darkness.
Silence engulfs me.
I free-fall in space.
Gravity, my enemy.
No place left to hide.
I keep my eyes shut.
When will I hit rock bottom?
The air turns chilly.
My descent goes fast.
I’ve come to my bitter end.
Life is in the past.
Thursday, August 12, 2021
RRBC’s 6th Annual Writers’ Conference & Book Expo
Join me at RRBC’s 6th Annual Writers’ Conference & Book Expo.
There will be games, prizes, surprises and other goodies. Be sure to visit each Author Booth, take a look around, and then leave a comment for your chance to win each Author Booth’s door prize.
There is a Scavenger Hunt Game to play, a 2 Truths & a Lie Game to play and more. In each Author Booth, you will find a clue. If you find the correct answer to all the clues and are the first to submit your answers, you could be the winner of an awesome prize.
If you’re into BINGO, purchase your BINGO cards and join us for a game or two.
And what we wait for every year – our RAFFLE– is back. We raffle (7) $100 Amazon gift cards, and this is open to the public. Raffle tickets are only $5. Some of the cards include additional goodies like other gift certificates, ebooks, and more. Enter for your chance to win one or more of these $100 Amazon gift card gift baskets. The more tickets you buy, the greater your chances of winning.
This year for the first time ever, we’ve added our BEST BOOK COVER CONTEST. Share your comments with us and let us know which one you think is best. Meet Me In Maine is entered in the contest.
https://rrbcwritersconferencebookexpo21.wordpress.com/rrbc-wcbe21-book-cover-contest/
Click for a full ITINERARY OF EVENTS!
Monday, July 5, 2021
THE FIRST BODY DROPS
We turned the corner, but Bella was nowhere in sight. Quaint stores lined the busy sidewalk beneath the red glow of the setting sun. The boats docked at the pier swayed in place above the choppy waves. A salty breeze brushed through my hair. The mellow sounds of early evening lulled my senses until a high-pitched shriek broke the spell. “Why didn’t you follow me?” Bella marched toward us.
“We lost you.” Scarlett spun to her.
“How could you lose me? I didn’t even cross the street.” Bella’s face reddened. “Unless you were trying to lose me.”
“We reached—” Scarlett glanced at the street sign. “Harbor Drive, and we didn’t see you.”
“Fine.” Bella pointed to the pink sign, Le Ice Cream Parlor, hanging between two 3D hot-pink ice cream cones, on a pink-and-white shingled building. “We’re here.”
We stepped into the pink. A long counter spanned the left wall, fronted with hot-pink stools. Light-pink booths lined the right and back walls. White wrought-iron tables and chairs filled the space in the middle. “Cute,” I said. The sweet aroma of ice cream, chocolate fudge, and cotton candy wafted to my nose. My mouth watered. I smelled peanut butter, strawberries, and I don’t know what else. “An ice cream heaven.”
Bella took a seat at the counter. “Hi, Eric. Can I have a banana split?”
“Sure thing, Bella,” a gangly teenager replied, scooping ice cream into a banana-shaped glass dish, a toothy grin on his pimpled face.
“What can I get the young ladies?” I turned, expecting an older man. Instead, a man in his early thirties flashed his pearly whites at us. “Hi. I’m Jonathan Hale, the owner of this ice cream heaven.”
“You heard me.” My face heated as I faced the shaggy blonde, blue-eyed, surfer-looking guy.
“Yes, I did. And thank you for the compliment.” His gaze landed on Scarlett and stayed there. I felt relief; he fit Scarlett’s unique taste.
“What do you recommend?” Scarlett asked, her voice sounding breathy.
“I suggest the tornado.” Jonathan winked. “It has my best flavors topped with chocolate fudge, whipped cream, and a cherry.”
“We’ll share one.” Scarlett glanced at me, and I nodded.
As Jonathan retrieved a tall dish from behind the counter and began layering the decadent ice cream flavors, he asked, “Are you new to Blue Harbor?” His intense gaze met Scarlett’s through the glass dome above the ice cream.
“We arrived today.” Scarlett’s voice drifted as she glanced away.
He chuckled. “Then I’m happy to welcome you to Blue Harbor.”
Scarlett gave him a tremulous smile. “Thank you.”
“Take a seat at a booth, and I’ll bring my special concoction to you.”
Scarlett took my hand and dragged me across the room to a booth.
“Wow,” I whispered. “You must be in love. I’ve never seen you act timid.”
She turned to me with a scowl, her mouth wide open, ready to defend herself, before her attention shifted to the front door.
The door flung open, hitting the wall beside it with a loud bang. A hush fell across the room.
Startled faces turned to the doorway.
A tall, thin man in his early thirties hurried inside, clutching his throat, his gaze darting around the room. “They’re back,” he whispered before collapsing to the floor, blood spurting from his neck and pooling around his body.
MEET ME IN MAINE by Susanne Leist
Wednesday, April 14, 2021
THE GAMES BEGIN
Metal clangs shut over the doors and windows.
Trapped in a house sealed as tight as a tomb,
Gregg must solve the computer’s complex riddles to escape.
Vampires and werewolves, sworn enemies of the night,
stare at each other as time begins to click away.
Freezing air blasts from the vents,
followed by a mechanized female voice.
“Gentleman, are you ready?” echoes around them.
Thus begins the thrilling adventure for Shana and her friends as they track The Dead from Florida’s swamplands to Quebec City.
Will Gregg escape the locked house in time to save his fiancee Linda from the rogue werewolves?
Will Shana save her boyfriend, William, from the blood curse infecting vampires, or will she succumb to her ex’s boyish charms?
A race to the finish culminates at a showdown at Quebec’s La Citadelle.
Let the better man or vampire win.
“This is a Gothic suspense/thriller that remains true to the vampire mythology while exploring fresh storylines and plot twists guaranteed to keep readers enthralled throughout. For vampire genre enthusiasts and romantic horror fans alike, The Dead at Heart by Susanne Leist is one you won’t want to miss.” – Broadway Turk Superstar, VINE VOICE
THE DEAD AT HEART
Tuesday, March 23, 2021
THE CIRCLE OF LIFE
The circle of life.
We may fall,
but we’ll rise again
from the dust.
Life continues.
A never-ending circle.
Tuesday, December 22, 2020
MY FAVORITE REVIEW
This is still my favorite review of The Dead Game.
There is something painfully wrong about the seemingly perfect town of Oasis
The opening pages of “The Dead Game” grab you at the ankles and drag into the deeper story. There is something painfully wrong about the seemingly perfect town of Oasis. Without getting into spoilers, here’s my take. Leist’s cast of characters are interesting in and of themselves. They do leave you wanting to get to know them better; yet, as in real life you only get to see the sides and masks that others want you to see. That, to me, was the author’s point. Everyone in Oasis seems to have an agenda, and it’s hard to know what to believe. With that in mind, Leist does a great job of bringing to life the picturesque town of Oasis, and the menacing End House. The book is reminiscent of tales like “House on Haunted Hill,” yet with its own twists on the supernatural thriller. The story is well-paced and the dangers faced by Leist’s characters feels terrifyingly real. All in all, a good read. I look forward to reading more works from this author.
Thursday, July 30, 2020
THE DEAD AT HEART -- New Release
THE DEAD AT HEART
I’m proud to reveal – THE DEAD AT HEART
Book Three of THE DEAD GAME SERIES
If vampires at Disney World
didn’t surprise you in Book Two,
then The Dead at Chateau Frontenac
Wednesday, March 25, 2020
STAY SAFE
Dancing in the moonlight
can be hazardous to your health.
can be hazardous to your health.
🌴THE DEAD GAME🌴
My warning has come true.
Stay at home.
Stay at home.
Tuesday, March 17, 2020
Monday, March 2, 2020
Blazing Owl Press: SUSANNE LEIST - WOMAN IN HORROR
Blazing Owl Press: SUSANNE LEIST - WOMAN IN HORROR: https://www.amazon.com/Susanne-Leist/e/B00F253FE6/ref=dp_byline_cont_ebooks_1 https://susanneleist.wordpress.com/ https://www.face...
https://susanneleist.wordpress.com/
https://www.facebook.com/susanne.leist.98
https://twitter.com/SusanneLeist
Susanne Leist is my woman In Horror today! I run into Susanne and her marvelous books in many places. She is a tireless worker and a wonderful supporter of other authors.
Susanne has a different approach to writing Vampire tales. I will present some highlights to that in the posts about her books below.
About Susanne Leist
"I have always loved to read. Agatha Christie, Alistair Maclean, Robert Ludlum, and many other authors filled my young imagination with intrigue and mystery. When I wasn't reading late into the night, the TV shows--Murder She Wrote and Columbo--entertained me with tales of murder and suspense.
Over the years, my taste in TV expanded to include such shows as Supernatural and The Originals. I searched for paranormal, murder mysteries but found few at the library or bookstore. So, I wrote one.
The Dead Game, Book One of The Dead Game series, brings fantasy and the surreal to the classic murder mystery with dead bodies, suspects, and clues. It offers vampires, vampire derivatives, and a touch of romance to spice the motley mix.
The story continues in Book Two, Prey for The Dead, as The Dead vampires use an exclusive club in Disney World to infiltrate the rich and famous. As The Dead grow in power, not even the bright sunshine of Florida can weaken them. Linda, my main character, and her friends join forces with human vampires--known as hybrids--to defeat the evil threatening to control Oasis. A masquerade ball and a romp through the tunnels beneath the town lead to a showdown in the swamps of southern Florida.
A career in writing has been a big leap for me. Accustomed to the number-crunching field of budgeting and the hectic commodity markets, I left my first career and M.B.A. in Finance behind to pursue my dream. I do not regret my foray into literature for one moment. Fellow authors helped me make my way through the competitive field. I write every day and even tried my hand at poetry. If someone tells you it's too late in life to try something different, they are wrong. It is never too late to follow your heart."
Susanne's fantastic novels.
Linda Bennett moves from New York to Florida to live a quieter life. Life is peaceful until the dead body washes up onshore. Linda learns that dead bodies and disappearing tourists are typical for the coastal town.
Linda and her friends receive an invitation to a party at End House, a deserted house overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. The group arrives, but no one is there to greet them. The house has a sinister life of its own where horror follows their every step. Traps, illusions, and revolving rooms add to their growing fear. Wild animals escape their cages in the basement, a bloody skeleton sleeps in an upstairs' bedroom, and body parts fall from the chimney into the living room's fireplace. The young residents flee for their lives.
They embark on a difficult journey, not knowing whom to trust, to uncover the one controlling the evil game.
Who are The Dead?
Are they humans or vampires?
Will Linda lose her heart to Todd, who knows more than he admits?
Will her best friend, Shana, fall in love with Sheriff Sam?
The Dead Game has begun.
Follow the adventure in Book Two, Prey for The Dead. Now Available.
Editorial Reviews
Review
Do not turn off the lights.
Ted Top 1000 Reviewer
The author has crafted herself a town that is bipolar in its nature. By day it pretends to be a bright seaside destination where youth collects to begin their adult lives; make friends, start businesses and parties. By night, the town closes ranks to all newbies and becomes a creepy destination for elites to ply their generational customs that include preying on the innocent. Linda and her friends will experience horror, shock, and disbelief as they attempt to get to the bottom of the macabre events in one of the historical mansions. The mansion was my favorite part as all senses of reality disappeared upon entering.
The Dead Game by Susanne Leist is a mysterious supernatural thriller with plenty of twists and turns that is well-written and keeps you turning the page. From the first page you start a wild ride and just when you think all is well, she throws in another twist.
Rhonda Cratty, Parenting & Education Examiner
I was absolutely surprised by this book! I knew it had some enigmatic mystery and some dark action, but the author set up the story so well I was happily amazed. It starts with a very engaging character, a young woman who is very well portrayed in a community, Oasis, Florida. The town's mysteries are maze-like and become deeper and more sinister as the book progresses. This is a very original approach to the concept of vampires and their existence.
Ray Miller "Relevant Reviewer"
The Dead Game by Susanne Leist is a top-notch haunted house horror thriller. The author excels at spooky descriptions, terrifying scenarios like opening a door and stepping into a black abyss or forever trapped in a dark maze with endless rooms stretching into infinity. Her characters are perfect and the reader can easily connect with them.
Simon Okill, Simon's Phantom Blog
A beachfront town, a haunted mansion, people disappearing or turning up dead--these are the elements of gothic horror, but this unique novel has a more than a few twists. The writing is first-rate, and the pace is fast. The characters are well-defined, and the plot is imaginative and unpredictable...
Howard Lipman, pen name PanOrpheus, author
Susanne's take on vampires is fresh and new but you'll have to read to know. She takes the age-old vampire legend and turns it into something I've never read before...
Elle Klass, Author of As Snow Falls
From the Author
Nothing can be as fine
as the dear book of mine.
It might not be sold in a big bookstore,
but you will not find one to offer more.
It was created with much love and hope,
even though it wasn't blessed by a Pope.
It has my blood, sweat, and tears.
Might raise many of your fears.
It has action, murder, and romance.
It can even do a little dance.
Please try it, and you'll see
it has the best of me.
Wednesday, February 26, 2020
SUSANNE LEIST - WOMAN IN HORROR
https://susanneleist.wordpress.com/
https://www.facebook.com/susanne.leist.98
https://twitter.com/SusanneLeist
Susanne Leist is my woman In Horror today! I run into Susanne and her marvelous books in many places. She is a tireless worker and a wonderful supporter of other authors.
Susanne has a different approach to writing Vampire tales. I will present some highlights to that in the posts about her books below.
About Susanne Leist
"I have always loved to read. Agatha Christie, Alistair Maclean, Robert Ludlum, and many other authors filled my young imagination with intrigue and mystery. When I wasn't reading late into the night, the TV shows--Murder She Wrote and Columbo--entertained me with tales of murder and suspense.
Over the years, my taste in TV expanded to include such shows as Supernatural and The Originals. I searched for paranormal, murder mysteries but found few at the library or bookstore. So, I wrote one.
The Dead Game, Book One of The Dead Game series, brings fantasy and the surreal to the classic murder mystery with dead bodies, suspects, and clues. It offers vampires, vampire derivatives, and a touch of romance to spice the motley mix.
The story continues in Book Two, Prey for The Dead, as The Dead vampires use an exclusive club in Disney World to infiltrate the rich and famous. As The Dead grow in power, not even the bright sunshine of Florida can weaken them. Linda, my main character, and her friends join forces with human vampires--known as hybrids--to defeat the evil threatening to control Oasis. A masquerade ball and a romp through the tunnels beneath the town lead to a showdown in the swamps of southern Florida.
A career in writing has been a big leap for me. Accustomed to the number-crunching field of budgeting and the hectic commodity markets, I left my first career and M.B.A. in Finance behind to pursue my dream. I do not regret my foray into literature for one moment. Fellow authors helped me make my way through the competitive field. I write every day and even tried my hand at poetry. If someone tells you it's too late in life to try something different, they are wrong. It is never too late to follow your heart."
Susanne's fantastic novels.
Linda Bennett moves from New York to Florida to live a quieter life. Life is peaceful until the dead body washes up onshore. Linda learns that dead bodies and disappearing tourists are typical for the coastal town.
Linda and her friends receive an invitation to a party at End House, a deserted house overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. The group arrives, but no one is there to greet them. The house has a sinister life of its own where horror follows their every step. Traps, illusions, and revolving rooms add to their growing fear. Wild animals escape their cages in the basement, a bloody skeleton sleeps in an upstairs' bedroom, and body parts fall from the chimney into the living room's fireplace. The young residents flee for their lives.
They embark on a difficult journey, not knowing whom to trust, to uncover the one controlling the evil game.
Who are The Dead?
Are they humans or vampires?
Will Linda lose her heart to Todd, who knows more than he admits?
Will her best friend, Shana, fall in love with Sheriff Sam?
The Dead Game has begun.
Follow the adventure in Book Two, Prey for The Dead. Now Available.
Editorial Reviews
Review
Do not turn off the lights.
Ted Top 1000 Reviewer
The author has crafted herself a town that is bipolar in its nature. By day it pretends to be a bright seaside destination where youth collects to begin their adult lives; make friends, start businesses and parties. By night, the town closes ranks to all newbies and becomes a creepy destination for elites to ply their generational customs that include preying on the innocent. Linda and her friends will experience horror, shock, and disbelief as they attempt to get to the bottom of the macabre events in one of the historical mansions. The mansion was my favorite part as all senses of reality disappeared upon entering.
The Dead Game by Susanne Leist is a mysterious supernatural thriller with plenty of twists and turns that is well-written and keeps you turning the page. From the first page you start a wild ride and just when you think all is well, she throws in another twist.
Rhonda Cratty, Parenting & Education Examiner
I was absolutely surprised by this book! I knew it had some enigmatic mystery and some dark action, but the author set up the story so well I was happily amazed. It starts with a very engaging character, a young woman who is very well portrayed in a community, Oasis, Florida. The town's mysteries are maze-like and become deeper and more sinister as the book progresses. This is a very original approach to the concept of vampires and their existence.
Ray Miller "Relevant Reviewer"
The Dead Game by Susanne Leist is a top-notch haunted house horror thriller. The author excels at spooky descriptions, terrifying scenarios like opening a door and stepping into a black abyss or forever trapped in a dark maze with endless rooms stretching into infinity. Her characters are perfect and the reader can easily connect with them.
Simon Okill, Simon's Phantom Blog
A beachfront town, a haunted mansion, people disappearing or turning up dead--these are the elements of gothic horror, but this unique novel has a more than a few twists. The writing is first-rate, and the pace is fast. The characters are well-defined, and the plot is imaginative and unpredictable...
Howard Lipman, pen name PanOrpheus, author
Susanne's take on vampires is fresh and new but you'll have to read to know. She takes the age-old vampire legend and turns it into something I've never read before...
Elle Klass, Author of As Snow Falls
From the Author
Nothing can be as fine
as the dear book of mine.
It might not be sold in a big bookstore,
but you will not find one to offer more.
It was created with much love and hope,
even though it wasn't blessed by a Pope.
It has my blood, sweat, and tears.
Might raise many of your fears.
It has action, murder, and romance.
It can even do a little dance.
Please try it, and you'll see
it has the best of me.
Linda Bennett's dreams of happiness have always eluded her. Five years ago, she moved to Florida from New York to escape heartache. The Dead, an evil group of vampires, had ruined any hope of peace for her and her friends. Surrounded by vampires and human vampires, Linda finds solace in her bookstore, learning to live among vamps and hybrids. Then one morning, Oasis goes dark, and an explosion rocks her shop and any future dreams for a happy ending.
Linda and her friends race to where lightning converges on a sinkhole in an isolated spot behind the town. As vampires and hybrids try to save the vampire hunter and vamp trapped beneath Oasis, a witch's spell throws the residents back in time.
When evidence emerges of The Dead's return to Oasis, Linda and her best friend, Shana, join vamps and hybrids on their search for The Dead. At an exclusive club in Disney World, they pose as the trophy wives of the hybrids, Todd and Sheriff Sam. Death and mayhem follow their every step. A romp through the tunnels beneath Oasis leads to a showdown in the swamps of Florida.
Can Oasis survive the battle between good and evil?
Will Linda find her happy ending?
Editorial Reviews
Review
"Set five years after the events in Leist's (The Dead Game, 2013) previous novel, this sequel aims to expand on the threat of Wolf and explore romance among the vamps. Readers will also enjoy a touch of mystery when they discover that Wolf's spirit has migrated into a new body... The Florida coast is beautifully evoked by water that "shimmered in alternating shades of azure and cerulean blue" and "the scent of zinnias and lavender" that "permeated the gentle wind." Most of the violence isn't the traditional vampire neck biting but more in tune with battlefield carnage ("A body hung from the chandelier--a headless form--still wearing his shirt and pants, now saturated with blood")." -- Kirkus Reviews
Review
"Set five years after the events in Leist's (The Dead Game, 2013) previous novel, this sequel aims to expand on the threat of Wolf and explore romance among the vamps. Readers will also enjoy a touch of mystery when they discover that Wolf's spirit has migrated into a new body... The Florida coast is beautifully evoked by water that "shimmered in alternating shades of azure and cerulean blue" and "the scent of zinnias and lavender" that "permeated the gentle wind." Most of the violence isn't the traditional vampire neck biting but more in tune with battlefield carnage ("A body hung from the chandelier--a headless form--still wearing his shirt and pants, now saturated with blood")." -- Kirkus Reviews
About the Author
I have always loved to read. Agatha Christie, Alistair Maclean, Robert Ludlum, and many other authors filled my young imagination with intrigue and mystery. When I wasn't reading late into the night, the TV shows--Murder She Wrote and Columbo--entertained me with tales of murder and suspense.
I have always loved to read. Agatha Christie, Alistair Maclean, Robert Ludlum, and many other authors filled my young imagination with intrigue and mystery. When I wasn't reading late into the night, the TV shows--Murder She Wrote and Columbo--entertained me with tales of murder and suspense.
Over the years, my taste in TV expanded to include such shows as Supernatural and The Originals. I searched for paranormal, murder mysteries but found few at the library or bookstore. So, I wrote one.
The Dead Game, Book One of The Dead Game series, brings fantasy and the surreal to the classic murder mystery with dead bodies, suspects, and clues. It offers vampires, vampire derivatives, and a touch of romance to spice the motley mix.
The story continues in Book Two, Prey for The Dead, as The Dead vampires use an exclusive club in Disney World to infiltrate the rich and famous. As The Dead grow in power, not even the bright sunshine of Florida can weaken them. Linda, my main character, and her friends join forces with human vampires--known as hybrids--to defeat the evil threatening to control Oasis. A masquerade ball and a romp through the tunnels beneath the town lead to a showdown in the swamps of southern Florida.
A career in writing has been a big leap for me. Accustomed to the number-crunching field of budgeting and the hectic commodity markets, I left my first career and M.B.A. in Finance behind to pursue my dream. I do not regret my foray into literature for one moment. Fellow authors helped me make my way through the competitive field. I write every day and even tried my hand at poetry. If someone tells you it's too late in life to try something different, they are wrong. It is never too late to follow your heart.
I'm certain that Susanne has more great tales to come. Susanne Leist is indeed a Woman In Horror!
Blaze McRob
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