Friday, March 18, 2016

THE HAUNTED

My Book Blog Tour began this week
I'm guesting with Denise Covey

____


But here I have

Melanie Schulz, author of The Haunted

from the IWSG Anthology



Thank you, Yolanda. for having me here today; 

it’s always fun to discuss all things bookish.


My pleasure, let's get started.


1. As a writer of alternative fiction the IWSG anthology was a perfect fit, did you find the challenge easy? 

Yes and no. Writing with prompts, even as minimal as they were for this anthology, has always been a challenge for me; that’s why I don’t enter more contests. The stories I write always begin somewhere inside of me; I can’t write any other way. But, as it turns out, I already had the stirrings of this story when the anthology was announced, so in the end, I was able to write it, or rather it wrote itself.  

2. Where did the idea for Haunted come from? 

I really can’t answer that without giving away the ending. Let’s just say I wanted a particular group of people to have a voice. You’ll know what I mean once you read the story.

3. What is it about an altered universe that you appreciate?

 It gives us a chance to see the world that would’ve or could’ve been. The tagline I gave this story is: Sometimes the best things in life are the things you never got to have, and that’s what this altered universe let me do; it let me give back that best thing.  

4. Please tell us about the UBook or Newstead project. 

The Newstead Project was my first novel and the first novel in the Newstead Saga Series. Five years of my life went into developing this story. There’s some serious love there. And it’s that love of all things Newstead that led me to invent Ubooks, a patent pending new way to enjoy reading. I listen to music when I write; it takes me to that deeper level I need to be at in order to get into the character’s heads. I wanted that same experience for my readers. And now they can have it. Ubooks, in essence, are books on video, set at reading speed, augmented with scene enhancing music. And best of all? They’re free and able to be viewed on all your devices. Check out my YouTube Channel  to see the latest releases. 

Wow, what an amazing idea!

Thank you, Melanie!

Your story The Haunted - is remarkable. 

Thanks for sharing your journey.

What do you think folks, music and reading

 combined - do you listen to music when you write

 or when you read?


***

Tagline:

     Sometimes the best things in life are the things you never had.

Blurb:

For five years Andy has been consumed by nothingness. Her life was fine—normal even—and then suddenly it wasn’t. No one knows why, least of all her. Desperate for answers, she seeks out yet another psychiatrist, not knowing that psychotherapy has nothing to do with it, not when the problem is that you’re being haunted.

Excerpt:

“Your dream bothering you again?” he asked, knowingly.
Andy closed her eyes and held on tighter.
He kissed her again. “It’s okay,” he whispered into her hair. “I’m here.”
“It doesn’t matter,” she breathed, shaking her head. “Nothing does.”
John pulled back to look into his wife’s face. “Are you sure you’re okay—do we need to call your doctor?”
“The only doctor I have is an ob-gyn, and I don’t think she’ll be able to do anything about this.”
John shrugged. “I don’t know, maybe it’s a hormone thing.”
Andy raised her eyebrows. “Do you really want to go there?”
“Hormones are powerful things, Andy. They can make you do all sorts of weird shit.”
“Like dream your husband’s dead?” There is was; she’d said it.
His face softened. “Is that it—is that what happened?”
Andy looked past him to the sky beyond. His hands cupped her face and brought her focus back to him. “I’m not leaving you, ever. Even if I die, I promise to haunt you.”
Andy frowned. “Don’t say that.”
“What? It’s true. You can’t get rid of me; face it.”

Andy shuddered; she didn’t know why.

***


Melanie Schulz is planted in upstate New York with her husband and three kids on a smallish plot of land she likes to believe is a farm. She plays at being a writer, same as she plays at being a farmer, and nurse, and overall enjoyer of this thing called life. One of the things she enjoys most are people who delight in discussing all things listed above. Join in the conversation at:



Website    Blog    Facebook




12 comments:

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

Haunted was very aptly named and a great story!

Unknown said...

Thanks for hosting me today Renee!

L. Diane Wolfe said...

Such a powerful story. The impact one person can make on the lives of others is amazing.

Pat Hatt said...

Always fun to theorize what could be indeed. One person or little thing sure can change a lot.

Yolanda Renée said...

You're welcome, Melanie, you've written an amazing story and I'm thrilled to be able to highlight that! Congratulations!

Karen Lange said...

Yolanda, thanks for sharing your space with Melanie! Appreciate meeting and learning more about her and her book.

As for listening to music while I write - I do occasionally, but usually just appreciate the quiet as I get my thoughts down (mostly non fiction). I do think it can inspire and be a catalyst for great stories, though. I often listen to the background music in films and consider what it adds to the experience.

Thanks for stopping by my blog and checking out recent posts. Have a great weekend! :)

Yolanda Renée said...

Thanks Karen, it was a pleasure meeting you on Denise's blog. I enjoy the quiet too, but sometimes music really sets the mood for what I'm writing!

Susan Flett Swiderski said...

I don't care HOW many times you try to entice me by dangling tidbits about stories in that anthology, I'm not gonna buy a second copy... so THERE!

Ubooks sound really cool. Neat idea. I'll have to check it out.

Unknown said...

You've made Haunted sound very tantalizing indeed! Some of my best published short stories were written to prompts, but most of them weren't. I guess prompts either speak to you or they don't, but like you, I prefer to write without them. (I do love web research for inspiration though!) :)

Christine Rains said...

Can't wait to read this anthology! I love the mystery around Melanie's story. :) Have a terrific weekend.

Anonymous said...

I'm looking forward to this anthology.

Happy touring.

Sandra Cox said...

OMGosh, Melanie. UBooks sounds amazing! What a 'novel' idea. It really does sound great.

'Lo, Yolanda:)