Straight Browsing from the Library: Alex by Dianne Hartsock

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. The author will award a $15 Amazon/BN GC to a randomly drawn winner. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

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Alex is twenty and confused. He always is. The world presses on him with its horrors and pain, with scintillating auras that bewilder his eyes and drive the migraines deeper. He hears the cries of the children, sees the brutal images of tortured victims. He feels out of control and his mind slips…

Severely abused as a child, he is left with horrible scars on his body and even worse scars within his mind. Even though it puts him in danger, he’s compelled to help those who call to him. He’s driven, motivated by his visions to rescue them and hopefully uncover the killer. When he can, he helps the police; yet some detectives suspect he’s involved. Often, Alex finds himself alone and afraid in a world he doesn’t always understand.

READ AN EXCLUSIVE EXCERPT

He resumed his walk, though he dreaded its destination. Ben wanted to show him the faces of a few missing people. He was afraid he might have to suffer their deaths in brutal visions. Yet there was no escaping it. They would come to him whether he wanted to see them or not.

Despairing, he forced each step he took.

Lost in thought, he didn’t hear the truck until it was practically on top of him. He sprang to the side of the road as it swept by, heading into town. A man leaned out the passenger window, fist raised, and shouted obscenities at him. Something flew out of the rear window, striking him in the face. The sound of laughter floated back to him as the truck disappeared in a cloud of dust.

Alex stared at the can lying in the dirt, soda dripping off his chin. It took a second to understand what had happened, but then heat flooded his face, anger and humiliation burning in his chest. He heard the truck return but kept his eyes on the ground, steeling himself as it stopped with a squeal of breaks.

“Alex?”

His head jerked up as Justin peered at him from the Jeep, his sandy hair windblown and turning blond from the summer sun. His eyes narrowing at Alex’s stained shirt. “Climb in,” Justin said, reaching over to open the passenger door.

He got in without a word, holding onto the roll-bar as Justin quickly turned the Jeep and headed back toward town.

“What happened?”

Alex stared out the windshield. “They hate me. I could see it in their faces as they passed. I think the driver would have hit me if I hadn’t gotten out of the way.”

Justin roughly shifted gears and pressed the accelerator. “Shit.”

Alex laughed shakily as they swept around a corner. “I’m fine. Don’t get us killed.”

Justin snorted but slowed the Jeep. He nodded toward the dashboard. “Angie keeps towelettes in the glove box if you want to clean up.”

He retrieved one of the small packets and wiped his face. Leaning against the seat, he let the breeze cool his skin. “What are you doing out here?”

“Jane sent me. She’s with a client and couldn’t get away, but she wanted someone with you.” He took his eyes off the road to look at him. “It’s going to be bad, isn’t it?”

His knuckles whitened as he clasped his hands. “I’m afraid so.”

MEET THE AUTHOR

Dianne grew up in one of the older homes in the middle of Los Angeles, a place of hardwood floors and secret closets and back staircases. A house where ghosts lurk in the basement and the faces in the paintings watch you walk up the front stairs. Rooms where you keep the closet doors closed tight at night. It’s where her love of the mysterious and wonderful came from. Dianne is the author of m/m romance, paranormal/suspense, fantasy adventure, the occasional thriller, and anything else that comes to mind.

She now lives in the beautiful Willamette Valley of Oregon with her incredibly patient husband, who puts up with the endless hours she spends hunched over the keyboard letting her characters play. Dianne says Oregon’s raindrops are the perfect setting in which to write. There’s something about being cooped up in the house with a fire crackling on the hearth and a cup of hot coffee in her hands, which kindles her imagination.

Currently, Dianne works as a floral designer in a locally-owned gift shop. Which is the perfect job for her. When not writing, she can express herself through the rich colors and textures of flowers and foliage.

Blog: https://diannehartsock.wordpress.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/diannehartsock
FaceBook Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/diannehartsockbooks
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4850270.Dianne_Hartsock
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/diannehartsock

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Alex-Dianne-Hartsock-ebook/dp/B0CSYN5Y5C/ref=sr_1_1

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Alex-Dianne-Hartsock- ebook/dp/B0CSYN5Y5C/ref=sr_1_1
JMS Books: https://www.jms-books.com/dianne-hartsock-c-224_445/alex-p-4993.html
Barnes and Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/alex-dianne- hartsock/1104468927?ean=9781685506599
Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/alex-76
Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/1519070

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Straight Browsing from the Library: The Basement by Dianne Hartsock

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Dianne Hartsock will be awarding a $20 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

READ THE BLURB

Alex is haunted by visions of the dying, but now it seems the ghosts he’s seeing are real as well.

In this sequel to ALEX and THE SHED, Alex wonders if he’s seeing ghosts. His friend Justin has bought the Fulton place, a beautiful old mansion on the edge of Oakton. But something’s wrong in the house. Alex has visions of a small boy, trapped in the basement, and a man at the top of the stairs who won’t let him leave.

And Logan Fulton has come to town, Helen Kramer’s cousin, a psychic medium who wants something from Helen, whatever the cost. He and Helen had spent time in the Fulton house as children and Alex suspects Logan has something to do with the spirits now awakening in the old mansion. But whether Logan is calling them forth or if something else is controlling them, Alex can’t be sure.

The child’s spirit calls to Alex, as do others trapped in the house. There is a dark entity holding them there, keeping the child forever in the basement, the others for his amusement. But Alex has never believed in ghosts, so what is really going on? As he strives to learn the boy’s secret, his friends are one by one pulled to the Fulton place and put in danger while Logan works against Alex, having an agenda of his own. Will Alex be able to solve the haunting of the old house, or will he and his friends be taken one by one, doomed to walk the dark hallways forever?

READ AN EXCERPT

Something tugged his coat sleeve. Startled, he looked down. Nothing. Goddammit.

“Either help me or get away from me,” he muttered, nerves pulled taut. He moved into the room and gasped as the light on the walls disappeared, the candle’s flame the only illumination. It flickered on the surface of the inkblack liquid in the basin, drawing his eye. Without thought, he crossed the room and crouched opposite Logan, but instead of looking into the bowl, he searched the slack continence across from him.

Logan kept his gaze focused on the bowl as if unaware of Christopher’s presence. He appeared pale, hollow-cheeked, haggard, a death mask, and Christopher sucked in a breath.

“Logan? Are you okay?”

No reaction. Logan remained frozen in place. A slow shiver traveled through Christopher. What did he see in those dark depths? The water stirred, radiated outward as if a breath had touched the surface. The candle’s flame flashed, light splintering through the liquid. Christopher bent closer to the bowl. Had something moved in there? He parted his lips on a hiss of dawning horror as eyes, dark as pitch, appeared, the image of a terrible face taking shape.

He pulled away, his limbs unaccountably heavy as he struggled to his feet, the terrible face breaking the surface, continuing upward, a dark figure climbing into the world. The room grew cold, ice forming where the creature stepped out onto the wooden floor. The air seemed sucked from the room. Unable to scream, Christopher stumbled back until he came up against the wall. The specter moved closer, and Christopher’s chest heaved, fear holding him immobile.

MEET THE AUTHOR

Dianne grew up in one of the older homes in the middle of Los Angeles, a place of hardwood floors and secret closets and back staircases. A house where ghosts lurk in the basement and the faces in the paintings watch you walk up the front stairs. Rooms where you keep the closet doors closed tight at night. It’s where her love of the mysterious and wonderful came from. Dianne is the author of paranormal/suspense, fantasy adventure, m/m romance, the occasional thriller, and anything else that comes to mind.

She now lives in the beautiful Willamette Valley of Oregon with her incredibly patient husband, who puts up with the endless hours she spends hunched over the keyboard letting her characters play. Dianne says Oregon’s raindrops are the perfect setting in which to write. There’s something about being cooped up in the house with a fire crackling on the hearth and a cup of hot coffee in her hands, which kindles her imagination.

Currently, Dianne works as a floral designer in a locally-owned gift shop. Which is the perfect job for her. When not writing, she can express herself through the rich colors and textures of flowers and foliage.

Blog: http://diannehartsock.wordpress.com/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/diannehartsock
Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/diannehartsock
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/4707011-dianne-hartsock
Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/Dianne- Hartsock/e/B005106SYQ/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1
Facebook Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/Dianne-Hartsock-Author-107985445959828/

Buy Links:

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Basement-Dianne-Hartsock- ebook/dp/B07MCVMFJN/ref=sr_1_18
Barnes and Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/books/1130301217
Solstice Publishing: http://www.solsticeempire.com/products.aspx?categoryid=102

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Straight Chatting from the Library: Dianne Hartsock

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Dianne Hartsock will be awarding a $25 Amazon or Barnes and Noble GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

READ THE INTERVIEW

What inspired you to write this story?

A couple of years ago I wrote a flash fiction piece on a serial killer at a nightclub watching the boys dance, picking out his next victim. Now, before you think this is an odd thing for me to write about, keep in mind I read a lot of Dean Koontz and also Patricia Cornwell books. Plus I watch X-Files and Supernatural, so my mind tends to wander into dark places. It was interesting and a little frightening to put myself into a killer’s mindset. I expanded the story to see how far I could go with it, and ended up with Birthday Presents.

What was your favorite part to write?

I have a soft spot in my heart for all my characters, but in this story, Gene Mallory is my favorite. I loved writing the scenes where I could climb right into his skin and show him at his most vulnerable, and yet touch that core of strength inside. My very favorite scene to write was when he’s reunited with his brother. I had tears for that one.

What was the hardest part to write?

The scenes between Crimson and Kyle tore my heart to shreds. So difficult to write. I did a lot of research on kidnapping cases from the victim’s point of view. Also read up on serial killers who kept their victims alive for a while before killing them. Not pleasant to read at all, but I wanted to make sure I got this right. This was not an easy book to write by any means, but digging into the motives and emotions of these characters was a challenge I enjoyed. <

How did you come up with your characters?

In every story I write, my character simply come to me. I don’t have to look far to find someone who wants me to tell their story. In Birthday Presents, Kyle is a customer I saw once at work. Crimson is a creeper I saw one night while out dancing. Tracey is also a guy from the same nightclub. Gene is a character that walked onto the page demanding I help him find his brother. Craig and Paige just kind of showed up. Daniel is the man Tracey whispered in my ear about one day. I think my characters make themselves known when I need them.

Do you have anything coming up and can you tell us about it?

I had three short stories published this November, and that’s about it for this year. Currently, I’m about finished with a psychological thriller I’ll send to my publisher and then begin a Christmas story based on an old legend. It will be a bit of a mystery, but mostly a love story. My last couple of books have been a bit grim, so it’s time for something lighter and much more romantic. After that, I’ll probably write another crime drama. I like to keep busy.

READ THE BLURB

For Tracey, life has become a nightmare. Kidnapped from a nightclub in Boulder, Colorado, brutalized and raped by the killer known as Crimson, he's held captive alongside Kyle, a young man Crimson keeps chained to his bed and is slowly torturing to death. Though Tracey manages to escape with Kyle's help, he is forced to leave Kyle behind.

Gene has never stopped looking for his brother Kyle, abducted from a nightclub seven months previously. The case breaks open when Tracey comes forward, claiming to have knowledge of the whereabouts of Crimson's hideout.

A manhunt begins, but Crimson's birthday has come and gone, and he will kill again.

READ AN EXCERPT

Gene stared at the golden brown liquid swirling in the shot glass as the bartender filled it yet again. Maybe he'd had enough. God, he was tired. He rubbed his gritty eyes, the techno music blaring through the crowded room throbbing in his head.

He turned on the stool to the small dance floor and watched a young man gyrate to the pounding beat. Strobe lights caressed the man's pale skin and dark clothing. The sleek body twirled with flowing, sensual movements. With a graceful twist, the guy's black hair swept like silk across his white cheek. Achingly young and beautiful. Gene noted the men standing back, drinks in their hands, watching the dancers. His suspect could be any one of them. Or none.

He picked up the shot glass and held it up to the flashing lights. How many nightclubs just like this one had he been in these past six months? It felt like hundreds, with him no closer to finding Kyle's abductor. If he'd even been kidnapped.

Gene put the glass to his lips and tossed back the whiskey, savored the burn in his throat. Most members of the police force believed Kyle had been bored with his life and simply walked away. He was nineteen, after all. Even Craig had backed off the search as more pressing cases took precedence.

But Kyle would never have done that. Gene knew his brother. Sweet and shy, Kyle would never had gone willingly with a stranger, without a word to his family, leaving his parents in this nightmare.

"But he never told you he was clubbing, either," Craig would remind him.

MEET THE AUTHOR

Dianne is the author of paranormal/suspense, fantasy adventure, m/m romance, the occasional thriller, and anything else that comes to mind. She lives in the beautiful Willamette Valley of Oregon with her incredibly patient husband, who puts up with the endless hours she spends hunched over the keyboard letting her characters play. She says Oregon’s raindrops are the perfect setting in which to write. There’s something about being cooped up in the house with a fire crackling on the hearth and a cup of hot coffee warming her hands, which kindles her imagination. Currently, Dianne works as a floral designer in a locally-owned gift shop. Which is the perfect job for her. When not writing, she can express herself through the rich colors and textures of flowers and foliage.

Blog: http://diannehartsock.wordpress.com/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/diannehartsock
Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/diannehartsock
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/4707011-dianne-hartsock
Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/Dianne-Hartsock/e/B005106SYQ/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1361897239&sr=8-1
Facebook Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/Dianne-Hartsock-Author-107985445959828

Buy the book at Amazon, Less Than Three Press, or Kobo.

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