Absent Shadows Trilogy
Book One
S M Spencer
Genre: Young Adult Paranormal Romance
Date of Publication: October 2014
ASIN: B00O6WL9IA
Number of pages: 208
Word Count: 75,000
Cover Artist: BookPOD
Book Description:
Destiny: ‘The predetermined or inevitable path a person must follow.’
When nineteen year-old Lili McIntyre decides to trade her California summer for a mid-winter visit to Australia, it’s in hope of finding inspiration and direction in the country where her father was born.
But when she arrives in Melbourne, the first thing she finds is the last thing she’s looking for—a brooding man who makes her heart race every time she sees him.
Against her better judgement, Lili finds herself drawn into a relationship that tests her very beliefs about life, reality and fantasy. But the real test is how to follow her destiny as she faces some of the hardest decisions of her life.
Using a modern theme, the author tells an old fashioned love story that you won’t want to put down, even when you’ve finished the last page.
Available at Amazon Brag Medallion
Sometimes, when something bad happens, time seems to slow to a crawl.
Like that time I was running to visit my friend who lived down the street. I was only about ten at the time, but it seemed like it was yesterday. I remember exactly how it felt as I ran down that street toward her house. And how, when I was only part way there, I stepped on an acorn and my foot rolled out from under me. As I fell, the pavement got closer and closer to my face—in horrible slow-motion. I hit the ground with my hands stretched out in front of me, scraping the skin off both palms. They barely bled but man they hurt like crazy.
Yes, I could replay that memory like a slow-motion movie in my head even now—years later.
But this … well, this wasn’t like that.
What happened next was like a series of still photos. Tom flew out of the bedroom in a blur, but stopped just long enough for the image of his face to be burnt into my mind. His eyes were no longer soft brown, but were instead a glowing red, and his normally tanned complexion was now pallid grey. But what really stood out was the blood that ran down from the corner of his mouth.
Then I heard Sam’s voice—loud and harsh. ‘Go!’
Tom was gone and I heard the door slam.
I closed my eyes for no more than a long blink—it couldn’t have been more than a second—but when I opened them, Sam was in the bedroom, bending over Claire. Was he doing something to her neck? She was so still.
I ran to the doorway but stopped short of going in. I couldn’t draw a breath to scream or talk. I just stood there, frozen.
Did you always want to be a writer? If not what did you want to be?
I think the desire to be a writer started in my teens. I read a lot and would often get caught up in the characters, living their stories long after I’d finished the books. I had a great deal of respect for authors that could do that, and I wanted to be like them.
When did you first consider yourself a “writer”?
Probably when I finished the first draft of Destiny.
How long did it take to get your first book published?
I canvassed a number of agents and a couple of e-book publishers and got responses that varied from cold to lukewarm. The main message coming through was that the genre was very crowded, so I figured I was wasting my time trying to get a publisher to put their money into the series. But with encouragement from friends and family I decided to simply bite the bullet and do it myself.
Do you do another job except for writing and can you tell us more about it?
I am fortunate enough to have retired from my “day job” and can now direct all my creative energy toward writing.
What is the name of your latest book, and if you had to summarize it in less than 20 words what would you say?
The Absent Shadows Trilogy.
Young Californian visits her aunt in Australia and finds herself caught up in a world full of vampires and ghosts.
Who is your publisher? Or do you self-publish?
Self-publish
How long does it usually take you to write a book, from the original idea to finishing writing it?
The Absent Shadows Trilogy took a few years – but it is three books, and I was still working full-time when I started it. I’m working on a rural romance at the moment and suspect it will be about six months start to finish. I think it really depends on the complexity of the story.
What can we expect from you in the future? ie More books of the same genre? Books of a different genre?
Rural romance, science fiction, and yes, paranormal romance.
What genre would you place your books into?
The Absent Shadows Trilogy is YA paranormal romance, because it has no graphic sex or violence.
What made you decide to write that genre of book?
I was working around the corner from Melbourne’s Queen Victoria Markets, up near the Flagstaff Gardens. Walking around at lunchtime, I started sensing that I was smack dab in the middle of the perfect setting for ghosts and vampires—and the story just developed from there. Of course, the late night ghost tours I’d done in the area, where I’d learned the history of the cemetery under the market’s carpark and about ghost sightings all throughout the area, really helped. And like many, I was caught up in the resurgence in popularity of vampires.
Do you have a favorite character from your books? And why are they your favorite?
I love all my characters, but I think I like Crystal the best. She is caring, and beautiful, and gentle and all things feminine. But at the same time, she is strong and powerful, and not to be messed with. She is Aphrodite and Athena wrapped up in one awesome little package.
How long have you been writing?, and who or what inspired you to write?
I’ve been writing seriously for about the last five years. But I was inspired to write when I was just a teenager. When I finished Daphne Du Maurier’s Frenchman’s Creek, I couldn’t get the story and characters out of my head for the longest time. Years later, I went to Cornwall, and found what I thought could have been the setting for the book and relived those pages once again. I had so much respect for this ability to create a story that had such a lasting effect on me as a reader that I wanted to do the same thing.
Do you have a certain routine you have for writing? ie You listen to music, sit in a certain chair?
Nope – whenever and wherever the mood strikes me.
Do you read all the reviews of your book/books?
Of course J
Do you choose a title first, or write the book then choose the title?
The title comes along throughout the process.
How do you come up with characters names and place names in your books?
The characters sort of name themselves, and the places are a combination of reality and pure imagination.
Do you decide on character traits (ie shy, quiet, tomboy girl) before writing the whole book or as you go along?
The characters evolve throughout the story, and they decide for themselves how much they want to show me.
Are there any hidden messages or morals contained in your books? (Morals as in like Aesops Fables type of "The moral of this story is ...")
Trust your intuition, and follow your heart.
Which format of book do you prefer, eBook, hardback, or paperback?
I prefer to read eBooks and paperbacks. I find most hardbacks too heavy to sit and read, although they do look nice on the shelf.
What is your favorite book and Why? Have you read it more than once?
I tend to have a new favourite every time I finish a good one. Right at this very moment, my favourite is The Glade, by a fellow indieBRAG Medallion honoree, Harmony Kent. But this will change as soon as I read another really good book. My favourties have included such classics as Gone with the Wind, The House at Pooh Corner, Something Wicked This Way Comes and of course, the Harry Potter series.
Do you think books transfer to movies well? Which is you favorite/worst book to movie transfer?
I think books with good characters, as well as lots of dialogue and action, become great movies. Books that are more cerebral, that are in the head of the key character, are harder to translate to film.
Your favorite food is?
Tortilla chips! Or as we say in Australia, corn chips!
Your favorite singer/group is?
I have lots of favourites, but Stevie Nicks and Casey Chambers are both up toward the top of the list.
Your favorite color is?
Metallic midnight blue.
Your favorite Author is?
Do I have to pick just one? I go through various genre moods. I devoured Harry Potter and The Chronicles of Narnia (didn’t everyone?) but also enjoy finding an author with a continuing series, like Patricia Cornwell, John Lescroart and Janet Evanovich. I particularly enjoy a good mystery/thriller with a romantic element. And I can’t leave Ray Bradbury, Stephen King, J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis and Daphne Du Maurier off the list either. Seriously, it goes on and on and on …
S M Spencer was born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area.
As a young teenager her mother introduced her to the world of romantic suspense by encouraging her to read the works of authors such as Daphne du Maurier and Mary Stewart. These books stirred a passion in her that would last a lifetime—to become a writer.
Feeling the need to experience life before embarking on a writing career, Ms Spencer completed a business degree. Her career eventually landed her in Melbourne, Australia, where she has lived ever since. Yet her true passion to be a writer never abated.
SM Spencer now writes from her home in the outskirts of Melbourne, where she lives with her husband, horses, cats and dogs.
Hi Desy, I enjoyed your selection from your newly published book. Your Mom led me to this site to have a look at your work. My husband and I recently joined and enjoy our online Library. The Sci-Fi /Fantasy genre is one of our favourites. Our first glimpse into it was through Jeaniene Frost's many books on a Vampire Series which we throughly enjoyed through the narrator Tavia Gilbert! If you haven't read them you should, she must be a very popular novelist. The Night Huntress series, The Night Prince are just two of them. One Foot in the Grave , At Graves End, Up from the Grave, Destined for an Early Grave are just a few of her titles. I will be keeping an eye out for your books. Starting in the young adult and onward I hope. Happy writing!
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