Pages

Saturday, June 29, 2013

Into the Future, book #2 in the Heritage Time Travel Romance Series

Into the Future Amazon






Excerpt:

Dave

     I pulled into the cemetery and drove around to the deepest part of the U drive so that my truck wouldn’t be visible from the road. I was on a mission and I was determined to find what I was looking for if it took me all day. I had a good idea of the direction. She should be buried in the furthest southeast section. At least it was the furthest section back in 1873.
     The death of the newborn baby girl was not any more important than the other three tiny babies who I had held in my arms while their lives slipped away and their mother’s sobbed in the agony that only a woman who had lost a newborn could understand. All the warps had occurred in the last century and the babies each had had major physical defects. Even if they would have been born in the present day with all the intensive care available, it’s hard to say if they would have made it.
     This particular baby was important because I had stayed in the warp for what amounted to two days in ‘warp time’ and I had been present for the small funeral, here in Cedar. The other warps had ended before I was able to find out who I was or anything else that would have helped me to find them. But with the death of Fairy June McFall, I had everything I needed to find her grave, that is, if the plan actually had been carried out.
     In a modest log cabin on McFall land north of my current home, a man in his early twenties named Silas and his young wife Clara had dressed their dead newborn in her christening gown and laid her in a small wooden coffin. I had constructed the coffin myself and I wasn’t sure if Silas McFall would have possessed the carpentry skills I had but I did my best to build a fitting last resting place for the infant. Clara put a cushiony hand-knit blanket inside which was to have been hers and a little rag doll was placed at her side.
     “To keep her company,” Clara whispered.
     I wiped the tears from under Clara’s lovely amber eyes, kissed her mouth and hugged her carefully, mindful of her delicate condition before she took her last look at the tiny baby. I placed the lid snuggly on top, nailed the coffin closed, lifted the box from the dining table and took it to the waiting wagon for the short journey to this cemetery.


 
 
 

Saturday, June 22, 2013

A little sneak peek...

Forevermore
(Heritage Time Travel Romance Series, Book 3)
Coming Spring 2014


A small excerpt...
As I signed in on the spiral tablet at the front entrance of the Keomah Genealogical Society, I braced for my performance with Margaret. I knew that she would be her cheerful, inquisitive self. I was not in the mood.
“Welcome, Torie, so happy to see you!” she said, rising from the front desk to greet me. “John is at the Wyman house in Fremont. He has a group of sixth-graders coming for a tour."
“Margaret, it’s nice to see you. I was just thinking of spending some time in your microfilm library. I am pondering a new story idea. You know me, always looking for new inspiration,” I smiled and tried to make it sincere.
“Well, you go right ahead and you let me know if you need anything at all. I will be right here if you have questions. I have received a lot of requests for information lately from people wanting to know about the towns of Agency and Craton. It continues to amaze me, the amount of folks who always reference Where Evil Lived. Even after more than two years it is still drawing folks from all over the country to get a look at the places you talked about in the story.”
“I hope that isn’t a bad thing,” I stated and wasn’t really sure if she considered it as such.
“Heavens no, Torie! The number of new members for the newsletter alone has made the goals for the society for the entire year and it's only April. It’s a blessing. Don’t you ever think otherwise,” she said, giving me a hug.
“Thank you, Margaret. I’ll let you get back at it.”
I walked into the microfilm room which was lined with heavy fireproof cabinets containing a century and a half of newspaper reels along one wall. The other walls were floor to ceiling full of census record books and obituary clippings that filled shelf upon shelf. There were family history books provided by different researchers and many books written by the Keomah members as well. Four beige rectangle Formica tables were combined and formed a large work table at the center of the room. I dropped my purse on the floor and set my laptop on one corner and pulled out my cord and plugged it in, on a power strip along the center of the work tables.
I took a seat at a table and opened my laptop, logging on to my family tree program. Even though I was in a library full of every kind of genealogy and history book you could imagine, I felt as if I was totally without any resources. None of the books or centuries worth of microfilms around me would hold the answers to make sense of my life. None would help me figure out how to bring my shattered family back together and make us whole.
My plan started out to spend the afternoon going through the oldest reels of microfilm and albums of documents for both Oskaloosa and the Fremont area, just skimming randomly. I didn’t have an agenda and wasn’t looking for anything in particular. I was just hoping that something would present itself which would relate to the experience I had lived as a woman named Mary back in old Fremont. I really didn’t have much faith that it would even be possible.
The time of the warp had seemed to be early, maybe as early as 1840 and there were no local newspapers back then. Still I gave it a good effort, until my eyes started to cross. The combination of tiny print and poor quality of the early documents were just impossible to read for any length of time. After an hour or so I had to give up on that quest and turned my attention to something less tedious. In the last newsletter, it had mentioned that they had received in another of the missing years of the Fremont Gazette, for the decade of the 1890’s. The entire year of 1898.
It turned out that one of the new owners of an old building in the historic downtown district of Oskaloosa had come across a forgotten stash of the newspapers, carefully preserved in bindery albums in an attic room. Of course it just seemed an obvious decision to give them to the local genealogical experts just down the road at Keomah. With the windfall of the Wyman house and other funding coming their way from many sources, the expensive process of converting the newspapers to microfilm had been completed in record time and were added to the library for all to enjoy.
I was scanning through a reel of microfilm, slowly cranking the pages through the reader, letting my eyes catch on the main headlines and stories. The headline for Thursday, June 9, 1898 didn’t interest me but a small story about halfway down the page caught my eye and caused me to suck in my breath and said out loud softly "Holy shit!"


Search Called off for the Missing Smith Girls 

The search for eight-year-old Coyle and little six-year-old Lindy Smith, daughters of John and Margaret Smith, sadly, came to an end on Monday. Both girls have been missing for more than two weeks and the many searchers and hunting dogs who combed miles of fields and creek-beds, failed to locate any trace of the sisters. The parents are continuing the search, however it is feared that the girls may have met with foul-play at the hands of a vagrant drifter, some accident or possibly made their way to the swollen and fast moving south Skunk River just northeast of town. It is not believed the girls would have run away from home. 


That was it. Just one paragraph about the girls I had dreamed about the night before we had left for our wedding celebration in Las Vegas nearly four years ago. It had been a time warp! I searched the previous two weeks and the following week and several weeks after but found no other mention of the girls.


Thursday, June 20, 2013

Into the Future, Heritage Time Travel Romance Series, Book #2


Now available on Amazon for Kindle

Into the Future,
Book #2 in the Heritage Time Travel Romance Series





When author Torie Mills moved to tiny Fremont, Iowa, she found the love of her life and the place where she finally felt she belonged. Five generations of Dave Cameron’s family had inhabited the large idyllic Victorian house he and Torie now called home. They settled in, started a family and seemed to be living the perfect fairytale ending. 

Fast forward two years. The Cameron family, including little one-year-old Rose, have been chased from their home by the time travels they believed they had left behind. Quiet Mahaska County has become a Mecca for fans of the psychological thriller Where Evil Lived, which Torie wrote concerning the 1959 mass murder of her Mills cousins. It was just meant to be a way to help Dave heal and put it behind him for good. Now it had taken on a life of its own. 

While Torie searches desperately for the answers that will fix her fractured family and allow them the happily ever after they deserve, Dave struggles to hold on to his sanity and keep a secret from her that will test him to the limits of his endurance as he comes to terms with the time travel gift that neither he, Torie nor their child will be able to resist or control.

Sunday, June 16, 2013



 
Just $.99 on ebook
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
We pulled into the cemetery's gated entrance and parked along the tall cedar trees that were the defining feature of the place. The cemetery land had belonged to the McFall family originally. Dave’s great-great-great-grandfather Samuel McFall had deeded it shortly after the first burial occurred in 1843. Little two-year-old Lucinda Koontz was the first death of the new community of Fremont, and her headstone was still plainly legible today.

Samuel stipulated that no one should ever be charged for the cemetery space. If you lived in the town, you were given a plot. No more space was available these days. The new cemetery across town had been used for decades, except for my grandpa and some other original settler families who were still allowed places beneath the tall cedars. This was the old-timers’ cemetery.

Friday, June 14, 2013

All Authors Blog Blitz


My guest author for the 1st Annual All Authors Blog Blitz is Kit Tinsley. Kit's blog  http://www.kit-tinsley.com/blog

See my guest blog post at http://lynneconstantine.com/blog/all-author-blog-blitz-meet-dana-roquet/


Welcome To The ‘Dark County’
Amazon Link to Dark County














Kit Tinsley

Well hello everyone, and welcome to my guest blog here. Today I would like to talk to you a little about my latest book ‘Dark County’. The book itself is a collection of short horror stories, or as I prefer to call them ‘Ten Tales of Rural Terror’, as each story is set in the countryside. Lincolnshire to be precise, a large rural county on the east coast of England for those who don’t know it.

The reasons I wrote this book are multiple. I had recently finished and was about to publish my debut novel ‘Beneath’, and I had planned my next novel, but wanted to do something different first. I wanted to write a collection of short horror stories, as it would allow me to cover many facets of the horror genre in one book. I also wanted the collection to have an overall theme. My first novel was set in a fictional town in Lincolnshire. This is the county I live in, and have done for nearly thirty years. Though I was not born here I have grown from child, to teen, to adult here.

Lincolnshire is a beautiful place. On a summers day you can drive around and enjoy the glorious scenery in full bloom. It is also a very flat county, there are only a few hilly areas, and this creates a sense of vast space, and at times bleakness and isolation. This feeling is everywhere you go, hidden below the surface. It is a place steeped in history, and somewhat out of time. There are many lovely, friendly people in the county, but also many small minded and hateful people. This was another inspiration for the collection, this duality in the county. As a horror writer I can always find the darkness that is hidden in a place, and with these stories I have let my imagination run wild and go to the most extreme dark corners.

The book contains stories of the supernatural, and stories of all too human evil. There are also stories that are psychological, while others are very visceral in their horror. This was what I wanted to be able to do. After writing a novel, with one story in one style of horror writing, I wanted to experiment and try different things before committing myself to writing a new novel. It was a great and quick experience writing this book, it took me only three weeks to write all of the stories, and I am very pleased with the results.

Now I am well underway writing my next novel, and I think that once this is finished I will write another collection of short stories, as it seems to me to be a great way to recharge your batteries and exercise your imagination. Who knows what this next collection will be about, maybe a volume two of this one, after all there are still many tales of terror to be told from the black heart of the ‘Dark County’.

About the Author


Kit Tinsley is an English horror author. He is a fan of all things horror.
He graduated form DMU Leicester in 2002 with a BA (hons) in Media Studies and English. Since then he has spent time teaching both subjects in secondary and further education.

He has also worked on several independent films, Writing a film called 'Red Route' in 2007. Unfortunately the film, which Kit also acted in, has been lost in post production hell since completion.

Most recently he has worked on production of a film called 'Shadows of a Stranger', working with actors from the popular T.V shows Doctor Who, Rainbow and Torchwood, as well as an actor who appeared in both 'Batman Begins' and 'The Dark Knight'. The film is being prepared for its release as we speak.

Kit is also a musician, He is lead vocalist/guitarist for a punk/folk/rock band called Dog Goblins.

He was born in Shropshire in 1978, but has lived in Lincolnshire since 1985.

He lives with his wife and their young son.

Other works by Kit Tinsley



 
 
     Beneath http://www.amazon.com/Beneath-ebook/d...

     Kit's website http://www.kit-tinsley.com




Wednesday, June 12, 2013

Coming soon...the 2nd chapter of Dave and Torie's story.



 
Its almost time! The sequel to Out of the Past will be out for ebook by July 1.

When author Torie Mills moved to tiny Fremont, Iowa, she found the love of her life and the place where she finally felt she belonged. Five generations of Dave Cameron’s family had inhabited the large idyllic Victorian house he and Torie now called home. They settled in, started a family and seemed to be living the perfect fairytale ending.

Fast forward two years. The Cameron family, including little one-year-old Rose, have been chased from their home by the time travels they believed they had left behind. Quiet Mahaska County has become a Mecca for fans of the psychological thriller Where Evil Lived, which Torie wrote concerning the 1959 mass murder of her Mills cousins. It was just meant to be a way to help Dave heal and put it behind him for good. Now it has taken on a life of its own.

While Torie searches desperately for the answers that will fix her fractured family and allow them the happily ever after they deserve, Dave struggles to hold on to his sanity and keep a secret from her that will test him to the limits of his endurance as he comes to terms with the time travel gift that neither he, Torie nor their child will be able to resist or control.

Wednesday, June 5, 2013

Contemporary Romance and a Time Travel Adventure

Cameo by Jimmy Thomas, creator of RNC and cover model on over 4000 romance books.



 
     She looked at my novel again and smoothed her hand across the shiny photo of Beau and Melody, who were in a passionate embrace against a blood-red sky.
     “Jimmy Thomas is gorgeous, isn’t he?” she asked.
     “Absolutely beautiful—that’s why I have him on my cover. He’s the best at what he does, don’t you think?”
     She nodded and then opened the book and fanned through the pages until a folded piece of paper fell out onto her lap...
 
 
     I hugged her, and as the clock indicated our book signing was at an end, Nancy and Liz returned. We both glanced up, and then I don’t know who screamed louder, Claire or me, for walking between the two petite women was a very real-life version of my novel cover in the flesh, Jimmy Thomas!
 
***
 
     With a copy of my own novel bearing the autograph of Jimmy Thomas tucked carefully in the side pocket of my laptop, it was then time to bid Claire good-bye. It had been a huge day for everyone.
     I handed Claire the Kindle which I had purchased for her and her online library.
 
     “When you get home, charge this up right away, and I want you to read On the Island first. I think you will love it. The hero is a cancer survivor, just like you. I’ll be waiting for your review. Shoot me an email. Okay?”
     “I will, Torie. Thank you so much for spending this time with me. If I do get better, I hope to become an author just like you.”
     “You will, sweetie. And I promise that I’ll give your first finished novel to my agent.” I hoped against all hope I would have a chance to make that promise come true.
    We had exchanged all our digits and email addresses. I had Claire’s Facebook info, and I provided her parents with Nancy’s information regarding the Neumann Mills 2012 Charity Trust. Nancy assured them they could expect a letter from one of the lawyers from her firm to get the ball rolling on our mutual venture.
     We took several photos for Liz and the Make-A-Wish Foundation, and I made Nancy take a photo with all our cell phones of Claire, Jimmy, and me together. We all made it our phone background photo right then and there.
     Jimmy gave a last kiss on the cheek to Claire and me and had to make a quick exit before he caused a riot. More likely, he would have been sexually molested, right there in the middle of the book store, by a rapidly growing gathering of adoring female fans.



Jimmy Thomas and Out of the Past

When writing Out of the Past, I wanted to pull from life to give the story a feel of reality. Real places, real people, both from the past and the present. A big thank you goes out to international romance cover model Jimmy Thomas and creator of RNC, who graces over 4000 book covers including my own novels and who graciously agreed to a cameo role in Out of the Past.

Just another little something different that makes Out of the Past one of the most unique time travel romances out there.


Out of the Past, Amazon

Saturday, June 1, 2013

Time Travel Romance Out of the Past

Amazon  link

5* Review.What a great story. I really like how Dana pulled history into this modern day romance. The characters were great and really pulled me in...I'm amazed at how in depth the family history was and how enjoyable it was getting to know all about them. I can't wait to read the next book!! Brenda J.

One of Torie's Travels. Torie inhabits the body of her great grand aunt Mahala Wyman.


Dr. Jacob Krout and family


     I became aware of the weight, as a person sat down beside me and I looked over to see a man dressed in a black suit. He put a stethoscope in his ears, unbuttoned my gown and placed the disc over my chest, listening to my heart. He was Dr. Jacob Krout. He had been the doctor in Fremont for more than forty-three years. He looked young, and was probably in his early thirties. I had seen several photographs of him which people had added to his online memorial. He was buried in Cedar with his family. His wife Mary Alice was a Dinsmore.

      He quietly listened to my heart as I studied his kind face.
      “Take a deep breath Mahala,” he requested. “And another. Good.” He smiled kindly at me and buttoned my gown. “I will be making the rounds to see your sister Ivy when I leave here. She and Joshua are sure looking forward to that little one. I don’t think I have ever seen a couple more anxious for a child.”
      The doctor looked from me, to some point at my left and I became aware that someone was holding my hand. My great-great-grandma Rose was sitting beside me, in a chair.
      “We are all looking forward to that new grand baby,” Rose said, patting my hand. “I think Mahala more than anyone. How is your family, Dr. Krout? Mary Alice and little Erma,”
      “Everyone is just fine. Erma will be going on ten years next month.”
      The doctor looked back to me and smiled. “I will stop again tomorrow,” he assured, rising and taking his stethoscope from his neck to place it into his medical bag on the floor beside him.
      “I’ll see you out, Doctor,” Rose offered.
      “I can see myself out, Rose.” He patted her shoulder and walked to the door. “Until tomorrow,”
      Rose turned her attention back to me as the bedroom door closed softy and I noticed she had a bible open in her lap. She began reading to me from some chapter. I have no idea what chapter it was. The good book wasn’t one of those on my book shelf. I hadn’t cracked a bible since I was confirmed at thirteen years old. Rose finished the passage and then lifted my hand and kissed the back gently.
      “Mahala, you are the light of my life, sweetheart. I want you to know that. I love you so much. We will read and pray every day until you are well. I have faith in God. You need to have faith and believe.”
     “I will, Mother. Mother, what day is it?”
     “Friday, April 10.”
     “What year?”
     She looked at me as though fearing I was having a fit or something. She touched my forehead gently, searching for fever. I was almost certain I knew the year because the doctor mentioned Ivy being anxious to deliver Katie, but I just wanted it confirmed.
     “Eighteen ninety-one, sweet,”
     Mahala Wyman died on April 11, 1891.