New Release-Family Secret by Kay Lalone

Today I'm excited to share with you an upcoming release from Kay Lalone. This sounds like a great read just in time for Halloween. So, if you're looking for something a little spooky to add to your TBR pile, take a look at this!

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Sixteen-year-old Thomas Patrick Henry is thrown into a web of secrets and demons after his mother’s murder.

On the road to solving his mother’s murder, sixteen-year-old Thomas Patrick Henry discovers a secret his father has kept from him for years. Tom thought Dad’s secret put him in danger, Mom’s secret is far worse. Magic. Witches. Ancient Book of Spells. Magical Amulet. Ghosts. Demons. Tom never thought these things existed until he is face to face with them. There is nothing else to do but destroy the demons before someone else Tom love dies. He already lost his mom and a close friend because this secret was kept from him. No one else will die. No one else will be possessed. Tom faces his demons. A mother’s love gives Tom the strength to slay his demons.

Excerpt:

“Ow.” Tom yanked the chain and dragged the burning amulet from under his shirt. Even the chain was warm, but there was no way he was going to take the stupid thing off. He let it drop to his chest and rest warmly on the top of his shirt as he stared at the demon.

“It’s not your grandfather,” Tom whispered. Anger rolled around inside him because of what this thing did to Sarah.

The dark figure stepped out of the shadows causing the boys to take two steps back. The demon looked like a man dressed in thunderous storm-like clouds from head to toe. Even his face was black and the eyes a dimly puke-yellow that churned Tom’s stomach. He felt Rob’s heavy breathing just inches behind him, but it didn’t stop a chill from shimmering up his spine like fingernails on a chalkboard.

“I know who you are.” Tom tried to sound confident even though his voice shook with fear. He swallowed hard. “What do you want?”

The demon raised a shadowy arm and then his stormy cloud-like body started to swirl like a mini tornado. In a gust of black smoke, the demon shot up into the air and zipped right over Tom and Rob’s heads. The boys ducked and laid flat on the wet grass, afraid the demon would consume them.

Tom turned his head to see the black smoke head toward Mr. Watson’s house. Tom got to his feet while Rob remained on the ground. The black smoke swarmed over the house and then drifted back down. It slithered around the house like a snake looking for a place to sneak in, circling several times before seeping through the crack in the window and disappearing inside.

Rob scrambled to his feet. “That thing is inside my grandfather’s house.” His voice was high-pitched in fear. “My…” He glanced toward the empty driveway. Then he sighed. “Mom must still be at the hospital.”

Tom touched Rob’s arm to prevent him from doing something crazy. He didn’t want another one of his friends to get hurt by this thing.

“We need to do something, but I don’t know what.” Tom glanced over to the tents in Granddad’s backyard, hoping Matt or Granddad would come running to save the day. But there was no movement over there.

Inside the house, Jake growled and then started to bark wildly. Before Tom could stop him, Rob dashed upon the back porch and flung the backdoor open. Jake continued his wild barking as if protecting Rob and the house. If only the dog could save the day, but Tom feared nothing would save them.

A cracking noise caught Tom’s attention, and he turned his head toward what he assumed was Mr. Watson’s bedroom window. The glass appeared pitch black at first, and then a face appeared. The same puke-yellow eyes stared at Tom and gave him an evil grin.



Author Bio:

I’m Kay LaLone author of Ghostly Clues, my first MG novel. Family Secret is my first YA novel. Both published by MuseItUp. I live in Michigan with my husband and teenage son (two older sons and a daughter-in-law and my first grandbaby live nearby) and two dogs. I love to get up every morning and write about ghosts, the paranormal, and things that go bump in the night. I write PB, MG and YA novels. No matter the books I write, I want my readers to feel like they have met a new friend. I’m an avid reader of just about any type of book (mystery, paranormal, and ghost stories are my favorites). I do reviews and post them on my website and blog. I love to collect old books, antiques, and collectibles. You can find many of my antiques and collectibles selling on ebay and at fleamarkets.

MuseItUp: https://museituppublishing.com/bookstore/index.php/young-adult/family-secret-detail

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ghostlyclues

Amazon Pre Order: http://www.amazon.com/Family-Secret-Kay-LaLone-ebook/dp/B014X7C59O/ref=sr_1_3?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1442342055&sr=1-3&keywords=family+secret

Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B00AGK32ZE

Blog: www.kaylalone.blogspot.com

Website: www.kaylalone.weebly.com

Twitter: www.twitter.com/kaylalone

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6580388.Kay_LaLone

What I Did this Summer

It's almost the end of September (can you believe it?). School's been back in session for a couple of weeks here, and routines are starting to return to normal. Well, what's normal for about nine months of the year, anyway. And with school comes homework. 

I remember in my elementary and middle school years that sometime in the first few weeks of school I'd get a writing assignment to share what I did over the summer. So, in keeping with tradition, here's what I did this summer.

Stitched photos showing Curtiss JN-4H taking off at Rhinebeck

In July we went camping for the weekend with family friends of ours. In addition to amazing food, fun, and campfires (with s'mores!), we also went to the Old Rhinebeck Aeordrome. We toured an amazing collection of static displays of older aircraft and headed off to see one of the two fying shows the Aerodrome puts on each weekend during the summer. We caught the History of Flight show and saw some amazing acts, including some fly-by's by a Faulker Dr. 1 (think Red Baron) and the Sopwith Camel (think Snoopy aka World War I Flying Ace). We also saw the Bleriot X1-an original plane built in 1909. It lifted off the ground, only about half a foot, but, it was incredible!

You can find more of my photos from the show here. They don't really do the planes justice (as I used my phone), but you can see more photos and learn the history of the planes and the aerodrome here.

Part of the Bobsled Track

In August, we took our family trip and returned to beautiful Lake George. This year, we headed further north for two days to Lake Placid, home of the 1932 and 1980 Olympics. Of course, we had to partake in the Olympic Experience, so with Olympic Passports in hand, we set out to hit the venues.

First up was the biathlon. Normally contestants in this sport cross-country ski (while carrying a rifle on their back) and then shoot (standing and prone (laying down)). If contestants miss a target, they have to ski a penalty lap which can cost them many positions, as the winner is the one with the best time. 

We didn't have to ski, and our rifles were $1800 Russian models that we held on shooting blocks while lying prone on a mat to shoot at the large of 2 targets (grapefruit size as opposed to golf ball size). We shot at the old style mechanical targets, which were set up next to the modern electronic targets that were used in the Nagano Olympics. I managed to hit 8 out of 10 targets (I jerked the rifle twice instead of just squeezing the trigger) and the guys got 9 out of 10. No penalty laps for us, but it was tons of fun!

While in the Olympic Sports Complex, we headed over to the Bobsled runs and took a tour. We rode a bus to the top of the track and then walked our way to the end. I had no idea the walls on the turns were so tall, until we walked through them. You could do a run in the old track on a wheeled cart and taking  4 turns, but we were thinking about maybe going back in the winter sometime and going down in a real sled through 10 turns (IIRC).

View of Whiteface from Little Whiteface

Next we went to Whiteface and took the Gondola ride to the top. This picture is looking up at the top of Whiteface from Little Whiteface. We wandered around up here for a bit (saw a Veteran's monument built on a large rock sent over from Italy), then decided to head to the Veteran's Memorial Highway and tackle Whiteface. Except in the time it took us to get there clouds had rolled over the top and it was suggested we return the next day.

So, we headed into town and went to the museum and took a look at the 1932 rink and the 1980 rink (the site of the Miracle on Ice, when the US beat the USSR to make it to the gold medal round.)

The next day, we returned to Lake Placid and made our way up the Veteran's Memorial Highway. It seemed something was conspiring against us reaching the top of Whiteface, as this day the elevator to the top was down. We decided it would be worth going and climbing the last 1000' to get to the top. And it was! Although I had to stop every few feet to breathe (a combination of being out of shape and having asthma) I made it to the top and took in the amazing view. 

Me at the summit of Whiteface

We made it back down to the castle just before the skies opened up, and enjoyed a quick snack and brew before heading to our last venue. The Olympic Jumping Complex. I've never been downhill skiing. In fact, other than the Alpine ride at Knoebel's and the Gondola ride at Whiteface, the closest I've come to a ski slope was when I went Alpine Sliding at Song Mountain when I was a teenager. So, I was amazed at the sight of the ski jumping tower at Lake Placid.

Ski Jumping Platforms (120' is on right)

This picture shows both towers the 90' (IIRC) and the 120'. We took the elevator to the top of the 120' and walked inside to where the skiers would start their run from. Not only do the skiers ski down an extremely steep run, the hillside they are landing on is almost vertical. This gave me a new admiration for the men and women who participate in this sport.

View looking down the 120' ski jump. The one to the right was being used by young kids practicing their jumps.

And last but not least, we caught a fireworks show over Lake George. A great end to great trip!

Gotta love technology that animates your photos!

So, what did you do this summer?

#TBR Thursday- Lightning Quick Reads

Life is crazy busy, and sometimes it seems we have no time to get our reading fix in. Well, if you have fifteen minutes, I have stories to recommend for you.

Over at the Lightning Quick Reads blog (created by the amazingly talented Kai Strand) you can find monthly themed short stories that only take about 5-15 minutes to read (depending on your reading speed.) Authors post on the same day each month (for example, I post on the 15th) with a story based on the month's theme.

This month the theme is "Getting Schooled". If you have a few moments, swing by the site and check it out. There are a lot of talented authors there, and while we all write in a wide range of genres, the stories are all G-PG13.

*shameless plug* If you've read The Boyfriend Project,  my September story, The Outfit, is set in that world with a couple new characters I'll be introducing soon. I'd love to hear your thoughts on it!

Now, go get your reading fix on!!

#inkripples- Fall

It's the second Monday of the month, and that means it's time for #inkripples! This month's theme is Fall/School. Be sure to stop by Kai Strand and Katie Carroll's for their take on the theme.

I love fall. The cool, crisp air filled with the scent of leaves and hint of smoke. I love driving to work in the morning and seeing the surrounding hills looking like someone dumped boxes of Fruity Pebbles all over them.

Baseball season comes to an end, and the football and hockey seasons start.

Best of all...it's sweater weather!

And, it has two of my favorite holidays: Halloween and Thanksgiving.

What are your favorite things about fall? Share in the comments below, or if you've joined the meme, share a link to your blog so I can stop by and visit!

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Ripples in the Inkwell is a themed meme hosted by Mary Waibel, Katie L. Carroll, and Kai Strand. We post on the second Monday of every month. If you would like to participate compose your own post regarding the theme of the month, include any of the images displayed on this page, and link back to our three blogs. Feel free to post whenever you want during the month, but be sure to include #inkripples when you promote so readers can find you. The idea is that we toss a word or idea into the inkwell and each post is a new ripple. There is no wrong interpretation.


May: Change
June: Summer/Vacation
July: Patriotism
August: Dog days/Things that drag you down
September: Fall/School
October: Fears/Things That Go Bump in the Night
November: Remembrance /Thankfulness
December: Celebration /Gifts

Summer Blues

Hope you all had a great Labor day. We spent the day with family, and had a great time.

Sorry for the silence last week. I didn't get any posts ready ahead of time, and ran out of time to do it the day of, so...I didn't post anything.

Lately I haven't really felt motivated to work on anything. I think my mind just needed a break from all the go-go-go of the last year. Now that the school year is starting up, I'm hoping to find the motivation to gear down and get some things done.

Speaking of getting things done, I'm working on creating a series of posts on cartoon princesses (mostly Disney) and how they've changed through the years. It's something I've been toying with for a few months now, and have finally started to do the research for. I'm hoping it will turn in to something fun for all of us!

If you have an idea of something you'd like to see on the blog, drop me a line and let me know! I'd love to have some ideas to play with.

Have a great week!!!