Sharon's INSPIRATIONAL Short stories of Faith and Romance can be found HERE or visit her
Facebook Page, which also has the links in the comments.)

Saturday, October 23, 2010

Anne Patrick visits the haunted mansion

The torch-lit lanterns in the courtyard cast an eerie shadow on Anne Patrick as she scurries up the creaky steps to the haunted mansion. A werewolf howls beneath the full moon as she gongs the bell. Oliver stands there grinning, his fangs gleaming as he escorts Anne to the parlor where Sharon waits.
The Theme to the original Halloween movie plays in the background as Oliver serves bloody red Hawaiian punch  – and Candy corn and Carmel apples

Whatever Oliver put in the cocktail has Anne howling about her new release…

blurb and excerpt from scary book – from her Nov release Sabotage.

District Judge Katie McKinley takes her career very seriously.  No one knows that better than her old childhood friend and first love, Graham Bishop.  Her ruling cost him his family’s ranch.  So it’s no surprise when an attempt is made on her life that the sheriff turns his suspicions to Graham.
Katie feels horrible knowing what her ruling cost her old friend, and knows his outburst in her courtroom gave the sheriff every right to suspect him.  But the Graham Bishop she grew up with would never harm her.  Even when all the evidence points to him she refuses to believe it.  Could she be wrong? 
Excerpt:
Katie was unnerved by the fact that the sheriff had moved on with the investigation in spite of her wish to drop it. But what bothered her more was that he'd shown the notes to Graham. The more she thought about it, the more it seemed unlikely that Graham Bishop had anything to do with them. Her suspicions lay more with Scott Tillman, or someone in his family. The sheriff was correct in his assumption of their hatred for her family.
"I'm sorry for any inconvenience the sheriff may have caused you. I was under the impression when I left his office this morning the matter was going to be forgotten."
"So you don't think I sent the notes?"
"Look, Mr. Bishop, I've already apologized to you, and I can assure you the sheriff won't bother you again. Now if that's all, I'm late for a luncheon appointment." She stood, grabbed her purse, and started around her desk.
"You didn't answer my question, Katie." He stepped forward so that they stood only inches apart.
She gasped in alarm, his glare prompting her to step back behind her desk. The beating of her heart echoed in her ears. "You called me an egotistical little snob in my courtroom," she reminded him. Over a year later, his words still stuck in her like a thorn.

zwani.com myspace graphic comments

He gave a low chuckle, and the lines beside his eyes multiplied. "You are a snob, or at least you were in high school. That doesn't mean I wish you any harm."
Leaning against her desk, he folded his arms across his chest, his brown eyes leveled on her. "Look, I was mad. Yes. And I admit that if I'd been able to reach your bench that day without getting a bullet in my back, I may have been tempted to wring that pretty little neck of yours. But I don't hold grudges, Katie. Life's too short for that. Besides, if I did hold a grudge, it'd be for you pretending not to like me in high school when I knew good and well that you did."
Her heart skipped a beat. "We're not in high school anymore."
"I'm well aware of that, Katie."
"This conversation is over, Mr. Bishop. Either leave my chambers, or I'll be forced to call security." The voice of authority she used in the courtroom sounded weak and shaky now. She knew deep down the man who stood before her would never intentionally hurt her, but since she'd received the third note yesterday, her nerves were a tattered mess.
"First you throw me out of your courtroom, and now you're throwing me out of your chambers."
His smirk prompted her anger to deepen. She wasn't sure which bothered her more, his pompous attitude or the fact that he could still draw a reaction from her after all these years.
"Listen, Katie..." He moved toward her again.
Not understanding why he wouldn't go, she backed up, almost tripping over the leg of her chair. "Please -- please leave."
"Fine, I'll go. But be careful, Katie. You may not want to admit it, but I think we both know who's responsible for those notes." 

Myspace Graphics

19 comments:

Sharon Donovan said...

Wow, what was in Oliver's Hawaiian punch I wonder. A warm welcome for Anne Patrick.

P.L. Parker said...

Good Morning Ladies and Oliver - so nice in your costume. Very interesting blurb. Congratulations and good luck on sales.

Anne Patrick said...

Oh I love haunted mansions! Thanks for having me over for a glass of Hawaiian punch, Sharon. I don't know what Oliver put in it but it's delicious. And I must say, Oliver, you look very handsome in your costume.

Karen Michelle Nutt said...

Oliver,

Thanks for the Hawaiian punch. I must have the recipe.

Anne,

Your excerpt drew me right in to want to know more. I love it when the hero and heroine have a past together. Makes for great banter.

I wish you the best with your release!

Mary Ricksen said...

Pass the punch!
I didn't write the notes, honest.
Your book sounds wonderful Anne!
Sharon, you are amazing!
Bear hugs from NC.

Jillian said...

SOunds like a great story- what a great cover, too.

Fun post, ladies- I love the decorations AND Oliver. Jillian

Anne Patrick said...

Thanks Karen! Yes, interesting pasts between characters bring great memories and a lot of conflict sometimes. And who can forget their first love?

Anne Patrick said...

Mary, are you sure you didn't write those notes? The sheriff suspects Graham, but Katie doesn't want to believe it.

Sharon is an amazing woman! I'm so glad she's feeling better and is back with us. We sure have missed her!

Oh, Oliver, can I please get a refill? You are such a darling!

Anne Patrick said...

Hi Jillian,
I owe my wonderful cover to Jennifer Ranieri over at Desert Breeze Publishing. She’s a great cover artist. All of her covers rock!!!

Thanks for dropping by. I appreciate all the comments!

Hywela Lyn said...

Hi Sharon, Hi Anne, hmm,not sure about that Hawaiian punch, Oliver, oh all right then, who could resist that vampish grin?

Anne, what an intriguing excerpt, and such a gorgeous cover, Congratulations!

Laurean Brooks said...

Sharon, thanks for hosting Anne.

Anne, the blurb excerpt grabbed my attention. Wonder who the guilty culprit is. Surely, it's not Oliver! Er..rrr does he have an alibi?

Congratulations on another great suspense.

Anne Patrick said...

Lyn & Laurie,
Thanks so much for coming by. I'm not much of punch drinker myself but, like you said, who can resist Oliver :-).

Laurie, since Sharon keeps such a tight rein on Oliver, I doubt he's the culprit.

Sharon Donovan said...

The vampirish Oliver grins as he fills goblits of Hawaiian punch for ANNE, PATSY, JILLIAN, LAURIE, MARY AND LYN

Sharon Donovan said...

AND FOR KAREN TOO

Margaret Tanner said...

Good morning Sharon and Anne.
Intriguing excerpt. That Hawaiian punch sounds devine.
Cheers

Margaret

Tiffany Green said...

Hello Sharon and Anne. Sabotage sounds like a great book filled with suspense. I like that. Best of luck!

Sharon Donovan said...

Hi Margaret and Tiffany, do have a goblet of Oliver's blood-red Hawaiian punch. He insists. WICKED GRIN

Gail Pallotta said...

Hi Sharon and Anne,
What a neat Halloween visit. Anne's new book sounds like another interesting mystery. I wonder who the culprit is? I don't think it's Graham.

DanielleThorne said...

Good luck w/ your new book!