Spooktacular Halloween Bash Guest Post and Giveaway #2: E J Stevens-Contest Closed

It's the second day of my Spooktacular Halloween Bash.  Today I have author E J Stevens visiting the blog with spooky poetry.

Woman in White

Traveling along the roadside

On this wet fog laden night

I catch a brief glimpse up ahead

Of a lone woman in white

Wondering if I can offer

Assistance to this lady fair

I dismount and call out to her

But she only turns to stare

What foul thing could have befallen

This damsel to strike her mute?

Perhaps then she is no fair lady

But a dame of ill repute

I shall take her with me

I’ll keep her warm in my bed

A reward for taking her in

From this road few others tread

Her presence could complicate things

As my wedding night draws near

So long as my wife’s family

Remain blind there’s naught to fear

A plan already taking form

I reach out to take her arm

But as the clouds move past the moon

Light shines on a wedding charm

Not a harlot then just a bride

Now obvious by her dress

Glowing white beneath the full moon

So lovely but in distress 

Trying again to be helpful

I reach out to take her hand

Only then do I see the blood

Dripping onto rock and sand

In her right hand she held a knife

Her left clutched her husband’s heart

Her husband had been unfaithful

Tearing her world and mind apart

She looked with frenzied hatred on

A lecherous wretch like me

Quickly slashed head from body

Tossing the head into the sea

So hear me all unfaithful men

Attend these words of the dead

Beware of the Woman in White

Or you too may lose your head.

-Woman in White, Shadows of Myth and Legend by E.J. Stevens

Copyright 2010

E.J. Stevens is the author of the haunting collection of dark poetry FROM THE SHADOWS, the chilling collection of paranormal poetry SHADOWS OF MYTH AND LEGEND, and newly released novel SHE SMELLS THE DEAD the first book in the Spirit Guide young adult paranormal romance series. 

Contest Alert!!!

E. J. is giving away a signed copy of her latest release, She Smells The Dead (here's my review) along with bookmarks and postcards.  Contest starts Oct 25 and ends on Oct 29.  

Winner will be randomly selected, emailed, and will have 72 hours to respond before another winner will be chosen.

For a chance to win, you must

1. Read the Contest and Giveaway rules
2. Be a follower of the blog thru Goggle Friend Connect
3. Fill out the Entry Form

Extra pts: 

1pts for commenting on this post

1pts for Tweeting or mentioning this contest on Facebook or your own blog (must include exact link)

2pts for posting the contest button on your blog

Good Luck!!!

Spook you tomorrow, when author Laura Stamps visits the blog with a chance to win her ebook, Vampire Kisses.

Review: She Smells The Dead by E J Stevens

Title:  She Smells The Dead

Author:  E J Stevens

Series:  Spirit Guide, Book #1

Genre:  YA, Paranormal, Shapeshifters

Published:  August 2010

Publisher:  Sacred Oaks Press

Format I Read: Paperback

Pages:  168

How I Got It:  received from author

Book Summary:

It's the beginning of senior year and Yuki's psychic awareness of ghostly spirits is threatening to ruin her life. Her ability to sense spirits of the dead isn't glamorous like the ghost hunting on television.

SHE SMELLS THE DEAD.

The smell impressions are becoming stronger. Yuki is being visited in her dreams, and she suspects that her friend Calvin is involved in something strange. To make matters worse her crush on Garrett is going unrequited, Yuki's friend Emma is on a rampage against bee oppression, and Calvin Miller mysteriously disappears.

Will Yuki be able to focus her powers in time to save the lost soul who is haunting her? Meanwhile, who will save Yuki from following the spirits into the light?

My Thoughts

Yuki is a unique teenager.  She has an annoying habit of smelling dead people.  When spirits have unfinished business, they haunt her until she is able to figure out how to help them.  Instead of seeing or conversing with the dead, each one has a certain smell that alerts her of their presence.  With the help of her friends, Yuki is about to be once fierce ghost whisperer.

First of all, I love the cover.  I also loved the storyline.  I’ve read a lot of ghost stories about people being able to interact with the dead and being able to help trapped spirits move on; but none where the dead could be helped without actually seeing or talking to them.  It’s a different twist and I think that’s what made She Smells The Dead so interesting to me. 

The story was a little slow at first, but once I got a sense of who Yuki was and her ability, I did enjoy the story.  I loved her support system.  Although Yuki was considered different to most kids at school, she still had Calvin and Emma by her side to share her secret with and to keep her life normal-when she’s not being haunted.

She Smells The Dead lays the foundation for a great new YA series.  E J Stevens did a wonderful job of introducing this series.  I am very interested to see what will happen next. 

My  Rating

I give She Smells The Dead four flowers of love.  If you love ghosts, Goths, and a little bit of YA romance, you will want to check this book out.

BTW, E J Stevens will be guest posting Oct 25th and giving away a signed copy of She Smells The Dead and swag.

Author Spotlight: Interview with E J Stevens

Thanks for stopping by the blog today.  I’m chatting with E J Stevens, author of She Smells The Dead, today.  I will have a review of the book up later today and a chance to win a signed copy next week. 

Diva:  Describe E J Stevens in five words.

E J:  Eccentric, goth, witty, convivial, vivacious.

Diva:  When did you start writing and why did you decide to write paranormals?

E J:  I had an unusual childhood steeped in the myth and folklore of the British Isles where my mom enjoyed her youth.  My favorite childhood diversion was to create and tell haunting stories filled with the magical, and often monstrous, paranormals that my mother's tales inspired.  In elementary school I began to put pen to paper and discovered an aptitude for writing.  I have been composing verse and weaving prose ever since.

Diva:  What three things do you have to have while writing?

E J:  Caffeine, caffeine, caffeine! Actually I am at my most creative when deep in the magic of the forest where I live with my corgi companion at my side and my writing implements at hand.  There is that wondrous moment when, with an artist's eye, you find the perfect slant of sunlight through the trees, a cluster of mushrooms growing from a bed of lush green moss and you know that when you blur your eyes you will be able to see the wee folk and the shadow spirits dancing in the periphery.  Of course, without an infusion of caffeine the magic could all dissolve with a yawn and the moment wasted with a nap. 

Diva:  Your new release, She Smells The Dead came out in August and has been getting rave reviews.  What was your inspiration for writing the story?

E J:  This was one of those magical moments.  I was walking by the overgrown graveyard near my home and was suddenly overwhelmed by a strong unusual odor.  I then wondered what it would be like having the paranormal ability to sense spirits of the dead through smell rather than by sight or sound.  I felt so inspired that Yuki and her friends were born that very day.

Diva:  The book is the first in the Spirits Series, how many other books are planned?

E J:  There are currently plans for four books in the series, however, this is subject to change.  The second book in the Spirit Guide series, Spirit Storm, is due to release in early 2011.

Diva:  Who are some of your favorite authors and what's on your To Be Read shelf?

E J:  I am a fan of Kim Harrisson, Jim Butcher, Maggie Stiefvater, and Neil Gaiman and have an unhealthy obsession with Edgar Allan Poe.  At this moment I have 2,229 books on my Goodreads to-read shelf.  The books currently at the top of my tbr pile are The Haunted by Jessica Verday, Unholy Ghosts by Stacia Kane, The Agency by Y.S. Lee, Glass Houses by Rachel Caine, and Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare.

Diva:  What's your next project?

E J:  I am finishing work on Spirit Storm, the second book in the Spirit Guide series, which will release in early 2011.  I also have a work in progress, Shadows of Faerie, my third collection of poetry.  

Thanks so much to E J for taking the time to chat with me.  You can learn more about E J by visiting her websites:

http://www.FromTheShadows.info
http://spiritguideseries.blogspot.com

http://ejstevensbooks.blogspot.com/

E J’s Bio

E.J. Stevens is a graduate of the University of Maine at Farmington with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology. She has worked a variety of jobs that demonstrate the human condition including schools, psychiatric hospitals and (*shudder*) shopping malls. E.J. currently resides in a magical forest on the coast of Maine where she finds daily inspiration for her writing.

E.J. Stevens is the author of the haunting collection of dark poetry FROM THE SHADOWS, the chilling collection of paranormal poetry SHADOWS OF MYTH AND LEGEND, and newly released novel SHE SMELLS THE DEAD the first book in the Spirit Guide young adult paranormal romance series.