Deadly Curses by Donna Shields {Author Interview & Giveaway}

Deadly Curses (Magnolia Valley Series)

Amazon
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Release Date: March 18, 2014
Published by: Soul Mate Publishing
Length: 204 Pages

Dr. Trent Moore’s life is complete – a no-strings relationship, financial security, and great health – until he is summoned to his father’s grave and discovers a grave robber stole one of his father’s bones … a finger bone. From there, Trent’s seemly perfect world spirals out of control. Strange occurrences happen, and the sexy lead detective informs him a grief stricken mother has placed a curse upon him. As his near death experiences ramp up, and he finds himself falling in love, he’s beginning to believe there may be some truth to it all. But, will he run out of time before he can tell her he loves her?

When Detective Ciarra Pacelli is assigned to a prominent judge’s suspicious death, she doesn’t know her little world is about to be turned upside down. She discovers other possible victims of a deadly Voodoo curse, one being the gorgeous and stubborn doctor. As she becomes wrapped up in protecting him at all costs, she finds she’s fighting against her developing feelings for him. Once she realizes she can’t, she gives her all in finding a cure against the curse that promises to take him away from her for good.

♦The Book Excerpt♦

Ciarra straddled the chair close to Trent’s bed resting her head on her hands. His cheeks lacked color. His eyes appeared sunk in. It seemed as if he’d aged within the last two hours.

Gregory came in from the hospital, which was where Trent was attempting to point out through the window just before he passed out, and said Trent probably had a touch of the flu as it was going around, and he was dehydrated.

Flu her ass. More like a damn curse. Ciarra called Tiesha back in. He wasn’t protected. Ciarra looked for the amulet he’d received last night, but never found it.

Trent’s sister in law, Sammy, prepared chicken noodle soup downstairs.

“Oh wow,” Tiesha said upon entering the room. “He doesn’t look very good. About as bad as the other one. I must say your partner’s unbelievable. He’s over there wearing gloves and a mask. I tried to explain to him he couldn’t catch it. But, he won’t listen to a crazy ape like me.”

Ciarra rolled her eyes. High time to give Rick some eye opening life lessons. “What do you think?”

“You should try a shaman or a Vodun priestess. You need to break the curse.” She placed the back of her hand against his cheek. “No fever. If anything, he feels cold and clammy.”

Ciarra eyed her best friend. “So, you know a Vodun priestess I suppose?”

“And a shaman. Which do you prefer? You don’t have a lot of time left.” She pulled out an amulet and handed to Ciarra. “Here is a new one. Place it under his pillow.”

“Thanks for the reminder . . . and the amulet. I guess the best bet would be Voodoo.” Ciarra reached out and ran her hand across the top of his head. She swore she wasn’t going to fall for this man. Yet, she teetered on the edge of a very high cliff with Trent. If only she could just let go and fall.

Jack, oh Jack. What do I do?

Her heart ached, being torn between the dead and the living. How had it happened? Trent lived like a playboy.

But, she could see a side of him he didn’t let out too often. One he wouldn’t really show. But then did a couple of times without knowing, he had.

Ciarra and he were like night and day. They could never last. But, the same could be said for Princess and Brutus. Yet, there the two misfits lay. Brutus the big baby on the rug and precious Princess curled up near his head, as if they had been the best of friends forever. Animals could teach humans a thing or two.

“Hello, Ciarra?” Tiesha waved her hands in front of Ciarra’s face. “Where were you just now?”

Ciarra shook off her thoughts. “Nowhere promising.”

“Oh boy.”

Ciarra raised an eyebrow. “What?”

“Oh this isn’t good. You have fallen flat on your face, huh?”

Ciarra turned away and back to Trent.

Then, it hit her. The whole Florence Nightingale syndrome thing. She only cared for him as a human being. “Nope. There will never be another Jack.” Silly little liar.

“Go ahead and lie to yourself. But Ciarra Pacelli, you are not, and I mean not, fooling me. I know you.”

Ciarra crossed her arms over her chest. “It’s only because I have to protect him.” Finally, something to cling to besides love. Maybe, she wouldn’t be tumbling off the cliff after all. She was lying to herself, but it was the only way to protect her from Trent.

“Again, go ahead and twist it any way you want. You have fallen for him.”

♦The Cafe Interview♦

Thanks so much for stopping by the Authors' Cafe today, Donna. I'm very excited to host you and your latest release, Deadly Curses { Magnolia Valley Series }!

Okay, I see you've got your favorite beverage and pastry, so let's get right to the interview.

Well, let me start by saying I am super excited to be here with you today at Authors’ Cafe! Thank you for having me.

At what point in your life did you realize that being an author was no longer going to be just a dream but a career you were going to turn into reality?

When I realized I had potential after taking part in Savvy Authors’ Bootcamp.

Which of your characters is most like you?

I would have to say Sammy from my Magnolia Valley series. You will meet her briefly in Deadly Curses. She is Dr. Trent Moore’s sister-in-law. She is busy taking care of her children, taking care of the farm, and she is pretty much the matriarch of the family. She is the glue and that’s how it is in my little corner of the world. Always caring for everyone else.

If you were stranded on a desert island, which character from either of your books would you want with you?

I would pick Ciarra from Deadly Curses. She lived out on the streets for a while when she was in the foster system as a kid. I figure if she can survive that, and being a detective, she can help me survive being deserted on the island!

Where do you write?

I usually write at home. But if the motorcycle shop is slow, I will write there in the afternoons.

Do you have any “rituals” you go through before you write?

Yes, I have to make a cup of coffee and then pray for a clear mind.

What was your favorite scene to write and why?

In Deadly Curses, it's where Trent goes into his condo to retrieve his cat and Ciarra is waiting downstairs (to say the least, he was being stubborn about getting the cat in the beginning of a snow storm). He walks in to find his 'friend with benefits,' Miranda, waiting for him in nothing but a coat. The reason I liked writing this scene is because this is where Trent finally realizes he loves Ciarra and doesn't want his old playboy life anymore. But of course, as he is trying to get rid of Miranda before Ciarra sees her, Ciarra comes in and sees the scantly clothed blonde. Poor Trent.....

What would YOU like your readers to know about your books or you in general?

First, if you don’t like reading sex scenes, then you may not like my books. With that said though, my books aren’t littered with sex scenes, just the final “it’s about time they got together” type deal. But it certainly isn’t behind closed doors either. Second, I love my paranormal everything. Nothing is generally off limits to me. That’s why I wrote Deadly Curses. I did a paper for a medical anthropology class involving rituals. And in my research, I came across Voodoo and Hoodoo. I figured why not write one about that?

What's one piece of advice you would give aspiring authors?

Never give up, never stop writing and never stop reading.

Do you have a favorite author?

Yes and you may think it a little strange, but I love Stephen King. He is my absolute favorite author hands down.

I LOVE Stephen King! What is your favorite quote?

"Books are a uniquely portable magic," Stephen King

What genre of books do you read for pleasure?

I read legal thrillers, romance, and criminal/police stories.

What do you like to do when you’re not writing?

Working at our (my husband and I) motorcycle repair shop, taking classes to finish my Associate’s and to end the nursing program, and taking care of our three year old grandson.

Who is the Fiction Hero you’d run off with?

Noah Calhoun from The Notebook

If all TV shows were real, what show (all time) would you most like to live in?

Once Upon A Time. How cool would that be?

We at the Cafe think it would be very cool indeed!

♦Cafe Randomness♦

Party dress or blue jeans? Always blue jeans

Plotter or Panster? A little of both. I start off roughly plotting an idea and then it punster all the way.

Print or e-Book? Print. I love the smell of books. I wish they would make a candle that smelled like that.

Coastal walks or extreme sports? Coastal walks

Cookies or cupcakes? Cookies

Super hero or super villain? Overall super hero. But I have to say that Rumpelstiltskin from Once Upon A Time borders both and is simply amazing.

If I had a free afternoon I’d . . . Catch up on some reading

The smell of what takes you back to your childhood? Freshly cut grass

You suddenly realize you live in a haunted house. Do you:

Run screaming for the door.

Bravely go to a church, load up on holy water and try to get rid of the ghost.

Set up ghost hunting equipment to capture phenomenon.

Call in the Ghost Adventures crew so that you can ogle the lead guy Zac’s amazingly stiff hair when you’re not ogling his uh, physical attributes.

Deny you have a ghost and just let it scare the bejesus out of your visitors.

Definitely #3!

Could you tell us five random facts about yourself?

My favorite color is purple.

I have fibromyalgia so it can be a challenge at times to write.

I am the youngest of nine children. My mom was supermom!

I am afraid of heights and deep water.

I am a nail biter.

♦About Donna Shields♦

I’m Donna Shields, author of paranormal romance and romantic suspense – published with Soul Mate Publishing, mom of six, gramma of four precious cuties and wife to an imperfect, yet amazing husband of fifteen years and counting (He’ll say a hundred, roll his eyes, and smile). Psss…I’m imperfect too, but don’t tell him that….

We call the beautiful state of South Carolina our home where there isn’t much hustling and bustling going on, where people are friendly (for the most part-it’s called that Southern Hospitality), strangers wave and say hello with a smile. And it doesn’t hurt being centrally located where the ocean is a mere three hour drive and the mountains no more than an hour and a half away.

I’ve been writing for five years steadily, but have always dabbled with writing short stories here and there. I’m a sucker (no pun intended) for all sorts of paranormal. And when suspense and adventure is thrown in the mix, I’m a truly happy girl. I enjoy writing both genres and at times the lines between the two blur, combining to make paranormal romantic suspense. My heroines are strong, even if quiet. They are independent, yet scarred and in need of a true love. A real hero, one who understands they need their space, but will love them fiercely. The hero may have a hard exterior, but inside he’s a mush ball. And the hero needs that woman who can tame him down a little and love with all her heart and soul.

♦The Giveaway♦

a Rafflecopter giveaway