The Wantland Files
Lara Bernhardt
Genre: supernatural suspense
Publisher: Admission Press
Date of Publication: December 16, 2016
ISBN: 978-0998426105
ASIN: B081RFTMR5
Number of pages: 286
Word Count: 73,470
Cover Artist: BEAUTeBOOK
She sees dead people. He doesn’t believe in ghosts.
The X-Files meets Ghost Hunters when psychic Kimberly Wantland is forced to collaborate with skeptic Sterling Wakefield as she investigates a ghost terrorizing a young family in the season finale of her hit television series The Wantland Files.
The frigid blast hit her, not a tidal wave crashing over her, but an iceberg, solid and powerful. And furious.
The icy shock took her breath away. She gasped.
The entity dropped from above and sailed past, blowing her hair behind her. Strong, warm hands grasped her arms, intent on steadying her. She shook free as Drew screamed.
“I told you to stay with the boy!” She crossed the room in three steps and knelt beside the toddler bed.
Drew no longer sat in the corner.
“Kimmy? What’s happening?” Michael called from the door.
Danielle’s voice joined the fray. “What’s wrong? Drew! What’s happening?”
“Stay in your room,” she commanded as forcefully as she could with lungs chilled by the dark entity. “Stay with your baby!”
Her fingers trembled as she searched the bed. Every square inch of the miniature thing. Her chilled hands were not so numb that they would miss a toddler’s body. Where was he? Frantic and scared, she lost control of her extrasensory perceptions. She stopped running her hands over the bed and held still. Clutching her crystal, she breathed deeply. Where was the entity? Where was the boy?
I remember thoroughly loving a book called It’s Halloween by Jack Prelutsky when I was little.
This is a book of poems, and that appreciation only increased the older I got.
The works of Edgar Allan Poe intrigued me beginning in high school. I liked all his writing and was particularly fascinated with The Raven.
His poem Spirits of the Dead is perhaps less well known, but perfect for Halloween:
Spirits of the Dead
By Edgar Allan Poe
Thy soul shall find itself alone
’Mid dark thoughts of the grey tomb-stone—
Not one, of all the crowd, to pry
Into thine hour of secrecy:
Be silent in that solitude
Which is not loneliness—for then
The spirits of the dead who stood
In life before thee are again
In death around thee—and their will
Shall then overshadow thee: be still.
For the night—tho’ clear—shall frown—
And the stars shall look not down,
From their high thrones in the Heaven,
With light like Hope to mortals given—
But their red orbs, without beam,
To thy weariness shall seem
As a burning and a fever
Which would cling to thee forever:
Now are thoughts thou shalt not banish—
Now are visions ne’er to vanish—
From thy spirit shall they pass
No more—like dewdrop from the grass:
The breeze—the breath of God—is still—
And the mist upon the hill
Shadowy—shadowy—yet unbroken,
Is a symbol and a token—
How it hangs upon the trees,
A mystery of mysteries!
About the Author:
Lara Bernhardt is a Pushcart-nominated writer, editor, and audiobook narrator. She is Editor-in-Chief of Balkan Press and also publishes a literary magazine, Conclave. Twice a finalist for the Oklahoma Book Award for Best Fiction, she writes supernatural suspense and women’s fiction.
You can follow her on all the socials @larawells1 on Twitter and @larabern10 on Facebook, BookBub, and Instagram.
Bolder Guilt-Edged
by Janice Tremayne
Genre: Supernatural Suspense/Thriller
A demon hell-bent on playing psychological games to torment its victims. A guilt-edged past comes to the fore to be relived again. Can Bolder overcome his mental suffering and destroy the voracious demon? In the Australian ghost town of Ravenswood in North Queensland, a gruesome suicide occurs after the famous annual Halloween ball. Bolder is called in by Detective Wellock to help track the evil incarnate responsible. However, has Zack Bolder met his match? Can a trained parapsychologist by the Church withstand the guilt-edged torments of the demon? This poltergeist dangles psychology as its weapon by tempering that frail part of the mind to those that get in its way. Bolder is taken back to relive dark secrets—ridden and guilt-edged. Can Bolder overcome this tempest of the mind and save the town before more people take their lives?
An ominous shadow glided across the room then rested on the classic armchair next to the window that was covered in blue police tape. The shadow transposed into an older man, well-dressed, and carrying a gentleman’s walking cane with a lion’s head handle, appearing in front of him. He wore a distinctive 1842 Prince Albert coat, brown jacket, yellow vest, check brown trousers, and a gentleman’s bowler hat—a hard hat with a short, rolled brim and a thin grosgrain band. He placed his right hand on the rim, tipping in acknowledgement of Bolder’s presence. Then he took a seat and crossed his legs.
“Well, I’m glad to leave my eternity box for a while. My coffin, that is. I keep forgetting you’re not from my time,” the poltergeist said.
Bolder squinted, looking straight ahead, his eyes fixated on the demon. It was a death stare and not meant to be welcoming. “It’s you? I can feel it.”
“Hmm, you were always more in tune with the afterlife than anyone I have encountered before. A special talent, if you ask me, my dear boy.”
Bolder took a couple of steps forward to get a closer look at the demon. “But that’s not why I’m here?”
“Ha-ha, you know that, too?”
“It’s not coincidental unless you think I’m stupid.” Bolder folded his arms across his chest and remained silent. He knew this demon was a conversationalist.
“I had to stage it, you know. Poor girl, she was so sweet, but I don’t deal with amateurs.” The demon pointed toward the balcony. “I encouraged her to jump, and she leapt without a second thought.”
“You killed a young, innocent woman?”
“No need to get emotional. A small sacrifice to get you here. Fimble-fumble. A lame excuse to get your chief to send you to this dreaded town.”
“I don’t understand.”
“We have unfinished business, you and I.”
“You took my Kelly from me, demon, and I’m not done with you!”
“A fighting priest … Revenge will get you nowhere. Or didn’t your God teach you that? Love thy neighbor, my dear boy.”
Bolder brushed his hand over the side pocket where he always carried a small bottle of holy water. He patted it gently to make sure it was still there.
“Oh, that water is useless,” the demon said in a sarcastic drone. “I wouldn’t even bother, if I was you.”
Bolder took the holy water from his pocket, ignoring the demon’s claim that it was ineffective. He unscrewed the lid and raised it toward him.
“You know, my dear boy, a new demon often asks me how it feels to be splashed by holy water. It’s a good question, don’t you think?” The demon appeared to be more agitated as his mild-mannered tone became aggressive. “I tell them it feels like boiling water on your skin at the beginning—and yes, it’s painful—but after a while, you learn to manage that pain. It’s only short-lived.” The demon stood up from the armchair while resting on his walking stick and said, “But to avoid the pain of holy water … I have a surprise for you.”
“What surprise, demon? You only carry tricks, lies, and deceit.” Bolder raised the holy water, ready to propel it toward the demon. The demon raised his hand for him to stop. “No, no, it’s not like that. I have someone who would like to say hello. And keep in mind that I can bring Kelly back whenever I like … She lives in my world now.”
Author Interview:
1. What inspired you to write this book? OR Tell us a little about how this story first came to be. Did it start with an image, a voice, a concept, a dilemma, or something else?
It happened accidentally when I was studying Australian ghost towns for another project. I couldn’t get over how many ex-convict and mining towns there were in this country in the early 19th century that fizzled away after the gold ran out. Each town with its unique stories of despair and ghost sightings steeped in mystery. After that, I created the characters, and I thought, what would be better than a priest turned detective and spirit hunter? This character would visit these towns to solve cold case murders of the supernatural kind for the particular police branch for unexplained crimes.
2. What, if anything, did you learn when writing the book?
I learned after writing my first book that I didn’t know much! This is despite being well educated and having completed a writing course. I learned that writing as a craft comes with experience, practice, dedication, and continued learning. You get better with each book from feedback, reviews, and learning from other writers. I have an excellent ARC list that provides honest feedback on my prerelease manuscripts. More importantly, I realized that I knew nothing about book marketing and how to create an engaged audience of readers.
With the current book, Bolder Guilt-Edged, I learned that your protagonist and antagonist need to interact with the reader and make a connection. Readers care most about the characters, likes, dislikes, quirks, joys, failures, and challenges. This is the strength of any book, and it drives the storyline and plot. In this book, I bring out the emotional aspects of the protagonist and the antagonist—the demon. Readers also like to get into the antagonist as a character.
3. What surprised you the most in writing it?
My capacity to push me harder emotionally and spiritually. This book was harder to write because it was more than a horror story. There is an underlying emotion instilled in the characters. It was a battle we all fight—our inner thoughts and who we deal with past incidences that have affected us. Notably, for some, how we manage it and compartmentalizes it. I unleash a lot of emotion in the book that makes us think about our place in the world spiritually.
4. What does the title mean?
Bolder is the surname of Zack Bolder, the priest turned supernatural detective and spirit hunter. But essentially, it’s a deliberate take because I wanted the character to have a bold personality. The term “Guilt-Edged” applies to our guilt-ridden past and how specific incidences in our life affect us. We are, in essence, all guilt-ridden in some way.
5. Were any of the characters inspired by real people? If so, do they know?
Not the main protagonist or antagonist—they are unique. There is a movie called Constantine with Keanu Reeves, which is similar to Zack Bolder, but I never deliberately bases my story. The supporting character, Detective Wellock, reminds me of a complex nose, tough-talking police investigator that is common in most crime series today. He is a skeptic but is learning to believe in demons as he spends more time partnering with Zack Bolder on cold cases.
6. Do you consider the book to have a lesson or moral?
Of course. Why write a book if you don’t have a deep meaning for the readers? The moral of the story is we are all ‘Guilt-Edged” in a way. Some more than others because of a trauma we have experienced in life. Some of this trauma is treated by a skillful psychologist, and they compartmentalize it and tuck it away. But that is a treatment or conditioning, and it doesn’t resolve the underlying guilt-ridden emotion. It’s still there—only suppressed. There are times in life when we may have to deal with the guilt head-on to resolve it. Some do it spiritually, as portrayed in my book. Some find other ways to compel the emotion. The book does leave this lesson open-ended in a way.
7. What is your favorite part of the book?
To answer this question, I would be spoiling the book for my readers. I want them to imagine how Bolder confronts his guilt.
8. Which character was most challenging to create? Why?
The demon antagonist, John Stable. I had to create a demon that had a personality and a name. Not your standard devil you find in many horror stories. This demon and its characterization are as much about the book as it is for Zack Bolder. I had to develop the demon’s point of view. Because I write in the person omniscient, I had to get into the head of the devil—not an easy feat for any writer.
9. What are your immediate future plans?
Write more books. I am planning to write the next installment of the Zack Bolder series. Book number four is called ‘Bolder Ultimate Cause.’ It’s scheduled for September 2021 release.
AUTHOR Bio and Links:
Janice Tremayne is an Amazon bestselling and award-winning ghost and supernatural writer. Janice is a finalist in the Readers’ Favorite 2020 International Book Awards in fiction-supernatural and was awarded the distinguished favorite prize for paranormal horror at the New York City Big Book Awards 2020.
She is an emerging Australian author who lives with her family in Melbourne. Her recent publications, Haunting in Hartley and Bolder Blindsided, reached number one in the Amazon kindle ranking for Occult Supernatural, Ghosts and Haunted Houses categories hot new releases and bestseller. Janice is well-versed in her cultural superstitions and how they influence daily life and customs. She has developed a passion and style for writing ghost and supernatural novels for new adult readers.
This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. The author will award a print copy of the book to two randomly drawn winners via Rafflecopter (at the bottom of the page).
Haunting in Old Tailen Haunting Clarisse, #3 by Janice Tremayne Supernatural suspense, horror
An Australian Ghost town. A resident demon and a local Shaman. A confrontation with evil awaits.
Clarisse realizes that running from evil is not a bad idea until you figure out you can’t hide. When some ghosts get tired of hanging around, they latch onto you. At the centre of the war on evil is a historic Church that carries dark secrets within its walls. After she meets with the local Shaman, Clarisse discovers secrets with evil consequences by digging too deep into the town’s past. When matters become complicated, she visits a circus of young performers on the outskirts of town triggering unexpected paranormal events and unleashing memories of a one-hundred-year curse. After being caught in the crossfire of a battle for evil supremacy, Clarisse confronts Little Charlie as he rallies the town’s ghosts into an impeccable evil stronghold.
Can the local Shaman and townsfolk rally in her quest to defeat the evil incarnate or will the town succumb to Little Charlie and his evil crew?
Haunting in Old Tailem is the third book of the Haunting Clarisse Series. If you like spine-tingling, chilling, creepy and spooky supernatural thrillers, then you will love this story by 2020 USA Readers’ Favorite International Book Awards Finalist in Supernatural Fiction, Janice Tremayne.
Pick up your copy today and follow Clarisse through her battles with evil!
As he got closer to the shrub, in the direction of the voice, a Raggedy Ann doll ducked its head out of the bush and bounced about, trying to get his attention. It looked like an old-style doll and something his grandparents would have played with as children. It had curly red hair, blue trousers, and a big, greedy smile.
A puppet show, he thought.
Archie wanted to touch the doll. It was so lifelike that it had him mesmerized, like a spell had been cast on him. He walked another foot to get a better look, more curious.
“Psst, psst … Want to play with me?” asked the Raggedy Ann. It was alive! Its mouth moved in a synchronized motion, but there was no ventriloquist behind it.
When Archie was at arm’s length from the doll, something grabbed his ankles and started to drag him. It pierced into his skin like long nails, penetrating and scratching. He screamed and kicked as panic set in, fighting back with all his might.
“Cecilia! Cecelia! Help me! Help me!” Archie yelled toward the other children where his sister looked on in horror. His waved his hands while being dragged facedown, scraping the soil and trying to grab onto anything he could.
With one hand on each ankle, the evil beneath the shrub latched onto him with painted black fingernails on white hands that looked dead as they continued to clutch onto him and pull him.
Archie managed to grab ahold of a log with both arms curled around it, holding as tightly as he could, like his life depended on it, which it did.
About the Author:
Janice Tremayne is an Amazon bestselling and award-winning ghost and supernatural writer. Janice is a finalist in the Readers’ Favorite 2020 International Book Awards in Fiction-Supernatural.
She is an emerging Australian author who lives with her family in Melbourne. Her recent publication, Haunting in Hartley, reached number one on the Amazon kindle ranking for Occult, Supernatural, and Ghosts and Haunted Houses categories, for hot new releases and bestsellers.
Janice is well-versed in her cultural superstitions and how they influence daily life and customs. She has developed a passion and style for writing ghost and supernatural novels for new adult readers.
The concept of writing the Haunting Clarisse series was spawned over a cup of coffee many years ago, and she has not looked back since. Her books contain heart-thumping, bone-chilling, and thought-provoking ghost and paranormal experiences that deliver a new twist to every tale. Tremayne can be contacted at author@janicetremayne.com or…
Janice Tremayne is an Amazon bestselling and award-winning ghost and supernatural writer. Janice is a finalist in the Readers’ Favorite 2020 International Book Awards in fiction-supernatural and was awarded the distinguished favorite prize for paranormal horror at the New York City Big Book Awards 2020.
