Cover Reveal: End of Day by Mae Clair #thriller #suspense #supernatural

Posted on September 10, 2018 by Mae Clair

Hi, everyone. What a wonderful way to kick off the week! I get to share the cover and blurb of my forthcoming novel, End of Day, book two in my Hode’s Hill series. But even more than that, I’m overwhelmed. I put out a call asking for help in splashing this baby throughout the blogosphere and twenty-seven awesome friends volunteered to provide me with space. Twenty-seven!! You guys are the best! 🙂

I also know that many of you routinely support me by commenting on the posts I share on other sites. I certainly don’t expect anyone to comment on twenty-seven sites, so I’m going to say thank you in advance because your support means the world to me. If you see the post and want to give it a like, that will surely make me smile. I also recommend clicking the follow button on the bloggers supporting me. There’s a reason these people are so amazing and helpful.

Twenty-seven!! Did I mention I’m overwhelmed? And humbled. Thank you, thank you!

And now . . .

Book cover for End of Day, mystery/suspense novel by Mae Clair shows old dilapidated church with bell tower and a cemetery in the background overgrown with weeds

Release Date: January 15, 2019
Genre: Mystery/Suspense/Supernatural Thriller
Publisher: Kensington Publishing • Lyrical Underground Imprint

BLURB:
The past is never truly buried…

Generations of Jillian Cley’s family have been tasked with a strange duty—tending the burial plot of Gabriel Vane, whose body was the first to be interred in the Hode’s Hill cemetery. Jillian faithfully continues the long-standing tradition—until one October night, Vane’s body is stolen from its resting place. Is it a Halloween prank? Or something more sinister?

As the descendants of those buried in the church yard begin to experience bizarre “accidents,” Jillian tries to uncover the cause. Deeply empathic, she does not make friends easily, or lightly. But to fend off the terror taking over her town, she must join forces with artist Dante DeLuca, whose sensitivity to the spirit world has been both a blessing and a curse. The two soon realize Jillian’s murky family history is entwined in a tragic legacy tracing back to the founding of Hode’s Hill. In order to set matters right, an ancient wrong must be avenged…or Jillian, Dante, and everyone in town will forever be at the mercy of a vengeful spirit.

What do you think? Once again, I love what Kensington Publishing did with my cover art suggestions. Should you choose to read the book, you’ll discover why that old church and cemetery are vital to the story.

End of Day is a mystery/suspense novel with a healthy dollop of supernatural thriller tossed in. Release date is January 15, 2019, but pre-orders are available now through this link. Naturally, I’d love if you moseyed on over and clicked 🙂

You can also add End of Day to your Goodreads to-be-read list (which garners the book additional exposure. Just saying 😉 You know how this stuff goes, right?).

Finally—yeah, there’s one of those—if you haven’t read, book one, Cusp of Night, you can find it here. Whew! All done with the promo stuff now, but I have to admit I’m pretty “gone” about the cover art for End of Day. Is it a winner?

Surviving a Deadline

Posted on September 28, 2017 by Mae Clair

I am so happy to be back in the blogging world!

Most of my regular followers know I’ve been burning the midnight oil on my latest manuscript to meet a publisher’s deadline. I’m happy—make that ecstatic—to say I finished on time and my editor graciously gave me another week for clean-up. I also have to send a huge shout-out to my excellent critique partner, Staci Troilo, who went above and beyond in turning sections around quickly—and expertly—so I could meet my deadline. Staci, my friend, you rock!!

I’ve been up against deadlines before, but this one was the toughest by far. Part of my problem was I languished on the beginning, and by the end of July only had 19K of the 80K I needed. I ended up writing 61K in 6 weeks—while working full-time! It’s amazing what you can produce under pressure, but it’s not something I EVER want to duplicate again. I can do without the anxiety attacks at 3:00 A.M.

Fortunately, my deadline for book 2 has more of a buffer. This one was tight because my publisher didn’t want to go over a year between releases from A Desolate Hour. I fully respect that decision. It’s all about keeping your name forefront in the mind of readers—not easy to do even when you have multiple releases close together.

I’ve already got my revamped blurb from Kensington. Earlier, I submitted my suggestion. Their gurus work from that and send an updated version. I liked theirs better, but did ask for a few minor tweaks. No cover yet, but I can’t wait to see what they come up with.

The book delves into the old Spiritualist practices of the late 1890s—think mediums and séances—but also has a full storyline set in the present. I’ve got two mysteries going on in this book, along with a haunted house, and an urban legend about a Spring Heeled Jack-like creature. The research was riveting!

One thing my publisher wants to change is the title—The Blue Lady of Hode’s Hill. We’ve already decided this will be book one of the Hode’s Hill Mystery Series, but Kensington’s marketing team isn’t in love with my title. I can understand why. When it comes to marketing, it’s a mouthful. So we’re currently debating other titles. I’ll definitely be spreading the word when we’ve settled on one.

I’m expecting first round edits from my editor tomorrow and hope to have changes back to her by Monday. I’m heading out of town the end of October and she’s already agreed to work with my schedule. I’m sure we’ll finish things up before I leave. In the meantime, I’m steadily getting back to visiting everyone again and will be sharing blog posts of my own. Thanks for sticking with me while I worked through my deadline hurdle.

It’s great to be back among friends! 🙂

Cover Reveal: A Desolate Hour by Mae Clair #RRBC Author

Posted on January 30, 2017 by Mae Clair

114

Happy Monday, everyone! I’m kicking off the week by doing a cover reveal for A Desolate Hour, the third and final book in my Point Pleasant mystery/suspense series focused on the Mothman of urban legend.

Book cover for A Desolate Hour by Mae Clair shows a small town overlooking a river at night, full moon overhead, cover in wash of green red and black with white lettering

A DESOLATE HOUR
Book 3 in the Point Pleasant Series
Genre: Suspense/Mystery
Length: 79,000 Words
Publisher: Kensington Publishing/Lyrical Underground Imprint
Publication Date: July 18, 2017

BLURB:

Sins of the past could destroy all of their futures . . .

For generations, Quentin Marsh’s family has seen its share of tragedy, though he remains skeptical that their misfortunes are tied to a centuries-old curse. But to placate his pregnant sister, Quentin makes the pilgrimage to Point Pleasant, West Virginia, hoping to learn more about the brutal murder of a Shawnee chief in the 1700s. Did one of the Marsh ancestors have a hand in killing Chief Cornstalk—the man who cursed the town with his dying breath?

While historian Sarah Sherman doesn’t believe in curses either, she’s compelled to use her knowledge of Point Pleasant to uncover the long-buried truth. The river town has had its own share of catastrophes, many tied to the legendary Mothman, the winged creature said to haunt the woods. But Quentin’s arrival soon reveals that she may have more of a stake than she realized. It seems that she and Quentin possess eerily similar family heirlooms. And the deeper the two of them dig into the past, the more their search enrages the ancient mystical forces surrounding Point Pleasant. As chaos and destruction start to befall residents, can they beat the clock to break the curse before the Mothman takes his ultimate revenge? . . .

~ooOOoo~

This book was challenging for me, the hardest of the three to write, but I’m pleased with the way it turned out. If you’ve been following the series, all those questions about the Mothman are finally answered with the conclusion of this novel. Caden Flynn is back, along with other regular characters, Eve, Katie, and Ryan. There’s also a few new ones you’ll be meeting and one character, who had a minor role in A Cold Tomorrow, is now front and center.

I hope you’ll join me for the conclusion of the trilogy.

A Desolate Hour is now available for pre-order from all major book sellers. Pre-orders help tremendously with a book’s launch, so both the Mothman and I would be highly jazzed should you like to place an order now. 😀 Just click here to pick the bookseller of your choice.

And if you happened to miss books 1 and 2, the purchase links are below.

A Thousand Yesteryears (Book 1) is on sale for .99 until February 4

A Cold Tomorrow (Book 2)

Release Day for A Cold Tomorrow #suspense #mystery #mothman #RRBC

Posted on December 20, 2016 by Mae Clair

Happy book birthday to me! 🙂

It’s release day for A COLD TOMORROW, book 2 in my Point Pleasant series.

creepy dirt road at night with the book cover for A Cold Tomorrow by author Mae Clair in the foreground Take a trip with me to 1982 and the small riverside town of Point Pleasant, West Virginia. Discover a community beset by a series of inexplicable events—strange lights in the sky, the arrival of mysterious men in black clothing, sightings of a winged monster known as the Mothman. If all of that sounds like a bizarre combination, these events actually befell Point Pleasant during the period of 1966-67, most of them documented in the book The Mothman Prophecies by John Keel.

I’ve resurrected those incidents, setting them fifteen years later in the early 1980s. My central characters get caught up in otherworldly and supernatural events related to UFOs and the Mothman, just to name a few. If you’ve followed my blog for a while, you’ve probably seen the blurb, but if not, you can find it here.

Today, I thought I’d share an excerpt. The passage below is from one of the opening scenes. Sergeant Ryan Flynn of the Point Pleasant PD responds to a call from local dairy farmer, Chester Wilson, who called after discovering a strange substance strewn across his fields. But that isn’t all that has him worried. Take a look:

“What exactly did you want to show me?” Ryan asked, trying to keep Wilson on track.

“It’s just over the next rise.”

Thankfully, the walk wasn’t far. As soon as they crested the hill, Ryan knew exactly what Wilson wanted him to see. A pattern of black-and-white splotches defined the bulk of a large farm animal lying on its side.

“Shit.” His muttered exclamation had nothing to do with stars or UFOs. Blowing out a breath, Ryan approached the cow wordlessly. Wilson and several other area farmers relied on their prized Holsteins to keep their dairy operations running smoothly. All he needed was for some drunk to have gone on a joyride and put a bullet through the animal’s skull. But all thoughts of tanked-up behavior fled the moment he got a closer look at the carcass.

Odd that the kill hadn’t attracted turkey vultures or crows, almost as if the poor thing was too defiled for a scavenger to touch. As far as he could tell there was no visible wound, bullet or otherwise. To be certain, he walked around the animal before squatting to take a closer look at its head.

“Sick, ain’t it?” Wilson asked.

Like something from a B horror movie. Ryan didn’t think an animal had that much blood in its body. The gory mess that had coagulated into a dense puddle under its head had come from its ears, nose, and mouth.

Grimacing, he glanced up at Wilson. “Was this animal ill, Chester?”

“No, sir. Fit as a fiddle.”

“Kind of a weird place to find her.” The cow was in a field Wilson didn’t use for corralling, judging by the lack of fencing. Even odder, Ryan saw no sign of bovine tracks or crushed grass in any direction. And no footprints to indicate the cow had been led there.

“How did she get here?”

“That’s just it.” Looking puzzled, Wilson scratched his chin. “I haven’t got a clue. I put her in the barn with the others last night. That was the last I saw her until I found her this morning.” He shook his head, remorse filling his eyes as he gazed down on the dead cow. “What do you think happened? All that blood… What could do that to her?”

Ryan hated to speculate. “I’ll call the county veterinarian for large animals.”

“You know what he’s gonna say, don’t you?” Wilson looked up, his eyes bulging, face drawn in the early morning light. “Nothing about it’s natural. It’s like her damn brain exploded.”

~ooOOoo~

A COLD TOMORROW is available in ebook versions or print from all major book retailers. If eerie green lights, conspiracy theories, flicker phenomena, and alien visitors sound like your type of story, I think you’ll enjoy this mystery/suspense novel which also includes a light romantic thread. And—of course—the Mothman.

Purchase from:
Universal Purchase Link

What Now?

Posted on December 6, 2016 by Mae Clair

For the last month I’ve been focused on little else but meeting the publisher’s deadline for A DESOLATE HOUR, the third book in my Point Pleasant series. Wall-to-wall writing marathons each weekend plus late nights at the keyboard helped me deliver the manuscript on time.

Celebration time, right? Yes…and no.

Part of me is excited by the prospect of being able to start something new, but the other part is saddened to see the series end. The biggest lesson I’ve learned? Never undertake writing a series while working fulltime. Kudos to anyone who can juggle both, but it’s beyond my time management skills. The deadlines are too tight, not to mention I’m tired of using concealer to hide the dark circles under my eyes. Bleh!

Now that the dreaded “D” word is behind me, it feels weird not to have to produce on demand. For the last year and a half I’ve been writing based on deadlines and suddenly all that pressure is gone. A wide open road ahead. I’m bummed about saying goodbye to my characters (even the Mothman) but am looking forward to starting something new. And one of the characters from the last two novels could easily spin off into his own series.

Oh wait—did I say series? Let me rephrase—he could be spun off into new tales. As much as I see the potential for him to be a repeat character, I don’t want his saga turning into a series based on deadlines. I’ve had my fill for a while.

A notepad with pen under the word Write in large letters

I remember when Kensington first offered me a contract for all three books. I knew it would be hard. I knew it would be challenging. I also knew if I walked away from the opportunity I would regret the decision. Now that it’s over and mostly done (there are still edits), I feel like I’ve taken strides forward in my journey as an author. I’ve also learned that I can write on demand and when push comes to shove, can deliver a finished manuscript in under four months. Who would have thought?

All of that aside, I’m looking forward to the release of book 2 in the series, A COLD TOMORROW, which rolls out on December 20^th. I hear it makes a great Christmas gift and is available for pre-order right now. Yes, that’s a blatant hint, folks. 🙂

In celebration of UFO visitors (did I mention there are UFOS in A COLD TOMORROW?) here’s another graphic Kensington did for me. I love that my book is tucked in along with Greg Olsen’s and Lisa Jackson’s latest releases. Now if we could just push TOMORROW to their level of sales, LOL! 🙂

A collage of thriller novels available on dark background with creepy house

Anyway, thanks for listening to me ramble. I can’t wait to start blogging about new projects. I just need to decide which one and….what now?

Goodreads #Giveaway: A Cold Tomorrow by Mae Clair #Mothman #PointPleasant Book 2

Posted on October 19, 2016 by Mae Clair

December is approaching, and with it, the release of book 2 in my Point Pleasant saga, A Cold Tomorrow. In anticipation of the December 20th release, Kensington Publishing is running a Goodreads giveaway for residents in the US and Canada. This is your chance to win a print copy of the book while helping a hard-working author out in the process.

Er…that would be me, folks. 🙂

GR giveaways do wonders for getting books noticed with increased exposure, so I hope you’ll take a moment to hop over and enter. It will be a huge help to me, so please accept my gratitude in advance.

I’m currently busily working on book 3 of the series, but I have a special fondness for book 2. I’ve heard many writers find the middle book the most difficult to write. I didn’t encounter that problem, but it could be due to my fondness for the subject matter—UFOs, Men in Black, and, of course, the Mothman. What a combination! If you read book one, A Thousand Yesteryears, you’ll find I’ve expanded on many open threads, as well as opening new ones—such as introducing the mysterious Mr. Evening. And if you haven’t read book 1, A Cold Tomorrow, can be enjoyed as a stand-alone novel.

BLURB:
Where secrets make their home…

Stopping to help a motorist in trouble, Katie Lynch stumbles upon a mystery as elusive as the Mothman legend that haunts her hometown of Point Pleasant, West Virginia. Could the coded message she finds herald an extraterrestrial visitor? According to locals, it wouldn’t be the first time. And what sense should she make of her young son’s sudden spate of bizarre drawings—and his claim of a late-night visitation? Determined to uncover the truth, Katie only breaks the surface when a new threat erupts. Suddenly her long-gone ex-boyfriend is back and it’s as if he’s under someone else’s control. Not only is he half-crazed, he’s intent on murder….

As a sergeant in the sheriff’s office of the famously uncanny Point Pleasant, Officer Ryan Flynn has learned to tolerate reports of puzzling paranormal events. But single mom Katie Lynch appears to be in very real danger—and somehow Ryan’s own brother, Caden, is caught up in the madness, too. What the skeptical lawman discovers astounds him—and sends him into action. For stopping whatever evil forces are at play may just keep Katie and Caden alive….

~ooOOoo~

Intrigued? Then please enter the Goodreads giveaway here then hop over to Amazon and pre-order your copy of A Cold Tomorrow. Like the giveaway, pre-orders are a huge help in getting a book launched successfully. I truly appreciate each and every pre-order and, as always, am grateful to my readers and friends for your ongoing support. You guys rock!

The Mothman knows that too 😀

Cover Reveal: A Cold Tomorrow by Mae Clair #Mystery #Mothman #UFOs

Posted on June 21, 2016 by Mae Clair

It’s here! At last I’m able to share the cover for A COLD TOMORROW, book two in my Point Pleasant Series.The legend of the Mothman continues, woven with another aspect of Point Pleasant folklore.

At the same time residents of Point Pleasant were besieged by the Mothman, there were also numerous reports of UFOs. So many sightings occurred during this time that it was declared a “flap” area.

Flaps occur when a high number of sightings are restricted to a specific location for an extended duration. In the case of Point Pleasant, that time period was 1966-1967. At the same time, the town was also beset by mysterious “Men in Black” who arrived to warn UFO witnesses not to speak of what they had seen. I’ve used these elements (and a few more from Point Pleasant folklore) in book two of my series, which also includes a mystery of a human sort.

Take a look. . .

Book cover for A COLD TOMORROW by author, Mae Clair shows a deserted country lane at night beneath a sky of green clouds

Publisher: Kensington Publishing/Lyrical Underground Imprint

Genre: Mystery/Suspense

Release Date: December 20, 2016

BLURB:

Where secrets make their home…

Please help me spread the word by adding A COLD TOMORROW to your Goodreads reading list.

And in case you missed book one, A THOUSAND YESTERYEARS, you can purchase a copy here:

Amazon
Barnes and Noble
iTunes
Google Play
Kobo
Kensington Publishing

Thanks for sharing in my latest cover reveal. I really love this one!

The Griffin’s Secret by Cate Masters .99 Sale

Posted on June 3, 2016 by Mae Clair

It’s time to stock up for summer reading! Friend, sister author, and awesome CP, Cate Masters, currently has her book The Griffin’s Secret on sale for $.99. I loved the combination of myth and modern day in this one. It looks like Night Owl Reviews thought it was very special, too!

~ooOOoo~

In this contemporary re-telling of Grimm’s classic fairy tale The Griffin, two people must risk everything to free themselves from the invisible prisons that keep them from love…

Jackson Grant had it all—the girl he loved, his Harley, and his guitar. Until a tragic accident stole it all away. Now, more than scars and a tattoo remain. Jackson has a secret. Cursed by his dead girlfriend’s mother, he can never fall in love again or his beloved will die. With his heart on lockdown, he keeps to himself—until a roadie gig with Malcontent, the world’s most popular band, entwines his fate with sweet, wounded Layla’s…

Music is what Layla lives for. She has no choice. She’s bound by magic to serve Malcontent, cursed to propel them to stardom with her musical powers. Then Jackson appears and gives her hope that he’s the hero who will save her. A reluctant hero, yet one she can’t resist. But freedom will come at price—and who will pay…?

What reviewers are saying:

I loved this one! The author did an excellent job of fitting this Grimm’s Tale into a rock music world. Readers will be intrigued and pulled into the story quickly. – Night Owl Reviews – TOP PICK https://romance.nightowlreviews.com/v5/reviews/arlenadean-reviews-the-griffins-secret-by-cate-masters

I loved this one! You will be hooked into this read from the very start. Be prepared for a lots of twist and turns, suspense as well as to be intrigued from this well told story – KK’s Reviews https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1283727028?book_show_action=false&from_review_page=1

A good blend of paranormal and contemporary romance – KiltsandSwords https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1273705790?book_show_action=false&from_review_page=1

The premise was interesting and unique. – Angela Street’s Review https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1249483226?book_show_action=true&page=1

Purchase From:
Kensington
Amazon
Barnes and Noble

About the Author
Award-winning author Cate Masters loves stories of any genre. Multi-published in contemporary to historical, fantasy/dark fantasy to paranormal, she sometimes mashes genres. Look for her at http://catemasters.blogspot.com and in strange nooks and far-flung corners of the web.

Connect with Cate at the following haunts:
Website
Email
Facebook
Twitter @CateMasters

A THOUSAND YESTERYEARS Reviewed by New York Times Bestselling Author, Kevin O’Brien

Posted on April 6, 2016 by Mae Clair

I’m so excited about this post I’m not sure where to begin.

As a reader (and writer) of mystery/suspense fiction I have long been a fan of Kevin O’Brien. I admire his work and regularly devour his books. He’s in an entirely different league of writers than me—an established author with a huge following and bestseller credits to his name. He also happens to be an author with Kensington Publishing, my publishing house.

Two days ago I received this email from the Director of Social media at Kensington:

Good morning,

I wanted to pass along a quote we’ve received for the first book in the Point Pleasant series.

New York Times bestselling author Kevin O’Brien has provided the following blurb:

“A THOUSAND YESTERYEARS is masterful, bone-chilling fiction that begins with a real-life tragedy on December 15, 1967: the Silver Bridge collapse in Point Pleasant, West Virginia. 46 people died. Author Mae Clair has seamlessly woven fact, fiction and creepy urban folklore into one intense thriller. The gripping story focuses on two witnesses to the disaster—fifteen years later. Both Eve Parrish and Caden Flynn lost loved ones in the catastrophe and still carry the emotional scars. After a long absence, Eve returns to Point Pleasant to bury her recently-deceased aunt, face some old ghosts, and reunite with her one-time “impossible-crush,” Caden. But when Eve begins to investigate her aunt’s death, she’s plunged into danger and a nightmare world where scary urban legends are very real. Full of suspense, A THOUSAND YESTERYEARS will keep you guessing, gasping and turning the pages for more.”

~ooOOoo~

She went on to say Kensington will be adding the quote to all online retail pages, and it will be included in the copy they feed out.

I feel like I’ve crossed a bridge, taken another step in my author’s journey. The very thought that someone of Mr. O’Brien’s stature has taken the time to read and review my book has me embracing euphoria. Writers work hard at a craft we love. Without accolades and fanfare, we’d gladly do it each day. But when recognition does happen, it’s something to be enjoyed and savored.

Right now I feel a little childish, a little giddy. Part of me wants to scream “Score!” the other part is humbled and grateful to Mr. O’Brien for providing something that will certainly help enhance the sales of A THOUSAND YESTERYEARS.

Release date is April 26 but pre-orders are available now at all major online bookstores. Grab a copy and see for yourself how “fact, fiction and creepy urban folklore” weave together “into one intense thriller.”

Amazon
Barnes and Noble
iTunes
Google Play
Kobo
Kensington Publishing

And how do you like these memes Kensington made for me?

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Look at this line-up of Kensington thrillers. A THOUSAND YESTERYEARS
is being promoted with Kevin’s latest and Lisa Jackson’s newest release! I love her stuff, too. Wow. Just wow.
#Suspense.jpg

$.99 Sale and a Preview by Mae Clair

Posted on March 10, 2016 by Mae Clair

Hello, blogger friends! I’ve got two bits of news to share with you today, both book related.

Through April 3rd you can grab an e-copy of my romantic suspense novel MYTH AND MAGIC for just $.99 from any major book retailer. With 46 reviews on Amazon and an average rating of 4.6, I think you’ll find it a compelling read. But don’t take my word for it. Grab a copy yourself and get lost in the blend of mystery, romance and detective fiction!

Purchase from:
Amazon
Barnes and Noble
Kobo
iTunes
Google
Kensington Publishing
All Romance eBooks

Secondly, I’m super excited to announce that Kensington Publishing has started splashing A THOUSAND YESTERYEARS around on various sites with ongoing promo. As of now, you can read the prologue (first 10 pages) of the book using this link. I hope it whets your reading appetite enough to consider pre-ordering a copy. Release date is April 26, but pre-orders are available through all major booksellers:

Amazon
Barnes and Noble
iTunes
Google Play
Kobo
Kensington Publishing

So whether you like secluded lodges where ghostly rumors are circulating (MYTH AND MAGIC), or prefer an abandoned munitions site haunted by a legendary creature known as the Mothman (A THOUSAND YESTERYEARS), I thank you for considering my books and wish you happy reading!