Silence reigns supreme.
The sun hides its face.
Palm trees shake their leaves.
Winds pick up their pace.
The hotel stands deserted.
Flapping sounds fill the air.
Dark shadows join the fray
Beneath his icy stare.
THE DEAD GAME
paranormal fantasy
INTO THE TUNNEL
(Source: rexisky)
Into the tunnel we are thrown.
Been more careful if I had known.
We’re falling down a dark abyss.
Please someone give us an assist.
We’re falling too hard and fast.
This nightmare better not last.
Our time has come to an end
As we fly around the bend.
The Dead are waiting for us below.
I can hear them yelling out hello.
We land with a thump and a bang.
I’m now facing a big fat fang.
THE DEAD GAME
The Last Day of THE PREY FOR THE DEAD BLOG TOUR
Thank you, Shirley Harris-Slaughter, for sharing my tour today.
RRBC has the best group of authors. They are always ready and willing to help each other. The life of an author can be lonely without the proper support group. RRBC supports authors and their works so no one will ever feel alone.
Welcome to the “PREY FOR THE DEAD” Blog Tour! @SusanneLeist @4WillsPub #RRBC
April 10, 2019
It is my pleasure to welcome
PREY FOR THE DEAD Blog Tour Starring Susanne Leist a #RRBC Member
———————————————————————————————————————-
This is the last day of my blog tour. I hope everyone enjoyed my poetry and excerpts of PREY FOR THE DEAD. I added snippets of my life even though I hate writing about myself. What else can I share? Writing began as a hobby. It’s become a profession—one that doesn’t earn much money. I can share my new hobby. Poetry.
Over the course of the past four years, I’ve written 558 poems. Don’t worry, I will share a few.
SADNESS FOLLOWS ME
Sadness follows me
wherever I go.
It haunts me
in all its forms.
There’s no escape
from its long arms.
I close my eyes
but feel its long shadow.
WELCOME THE NIGHT
Welcome the night
And its friend, the moon.
Don’t take flight
From the man in the moon.
Let the moon take over
From the sun’s bright reign.
Let the sun take cover
Without hesitation or pain.
A thick blanket will fall,
Covering the earth with security.
Darkness will cover all
With its grace and purity.
The stars will twinkle and shine.
For the sun, do not pine.
It will be back tomorrow morning
So no need for any worrying.
HARMONY OF THE SENSES
The rustle of the grass
as I make my way past.
The hard waves against the shore
echo memories and more.
The soft feel of the white sand
as I touch toes to the land.
The cries of the seagulls
as they dip to check holes.
A harmony of the senses.
A feast to cover all tenses.
Past, present, future converge
to bring pleasure to this splurge.
ARE WE ALONE?
silenceforthesoul Deactivated
Carl Gustav Carus (1789-1869) – Faust’s Dream
ARE WE ALONE?
Friends and family.
Are they with us?
I can feel them.
A thickness in the air.
A soft touch.
A slight breeze.
Is my brother gone,
Or is he still with me?
I feel him beside me.
He chuckles at my blunders.
Laughs at my jokes.
Cries when I’m hurt.
He is with me.
Always.
Forever.
A BUD
A bud so sweet,
Enticing treat.
It throws off heat,
Dance to its beat.
Its scent draws me near,
Still not feeling fear.
It soon becomes clear,
I shouldn’t be here.
The buzzing becomes loud,
Near my face big and round.
I quickly hit the ground,
Hoping I won’t be found.
The birds are chirping,
And I’m not hurting.
The sun is shining,
My bud is smiling.
That’s all, folks
SUSANNE LEIST BIO
I have always loved to read. Agatha Christie, Alistair Maclean, Robert Ludlum, and many other authors filled my young imagination with intrigue and mystery. When I wasn’t reading late into the night, the TV shows—Murder She Wrote and Columbo—entertained me with tales of murder and suspense.
Over the years, my taste in TV expanded to include such shows as Supernatural and The Originals. I searched for paranormal, murder mysteries but found few at the library or bookstore. So, I wrote one.
A career in writing has been a big leap for me. Accustomed to the number-crunching field of budgeting and the hectic commodity markets, I left my first career and M.B.A. in Finance behind to pursue my dream. I do not regret my foray into literature for one moment. Fellow authors helped me make my way through the competitive field. I write every day and even tried my hand at poetry. If someone tells you it’s too late in life to try something different, they are wrong. It is never too late to follow your heart.
The Dead Game is the first book in The Dead Game series. It brings fantasy and the surreal to the classic murder mystery with dead bodies, suspects, and clues. It offers vampires, vampire derivatives, and a touch of romance to give spice to the mix. Once you read The Dead Game, you will never look at a dead body the same way.
In Book Two, Prey for The Dead, the suspense continues as The Dead use an exclusive club in Disney World and infiltrate the rich and famous. The Dead grow in power, and not even the sun or the swamps of Florida can weaken them. Linda–my main character–and her friends join with the human vampires or hybrids to defeat the evil forces threatening to control their town.
I hope you enjoy my books. The third book of The Dead Game Series is waiting for me to write.
SUSANNE LEIST’S SOCIAL MEDIA & BOOK LINKS
PURCHASE LINKS:
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07PB9KG4P/
Nook: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/books/1130732773?ean=2940161260111
SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/SusanneLeist
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/susanne.leist.98
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/susanne.leist/
To follow along with the rest of the tour, please visit the author’s tour page on the 4WillsPublishing site. If you’d like to book your own blog tour and have your book promoted in similar grand fashion, please click HERE.
Lastly, Susanne is a member of the best book club ever – RAVE REVIEWS BOOK CLUB {#RRBC}! If you’re looking for amazing support as an author, or if you simply love books, JOIN US! We’d love to have you!
Thanks for supporting this author and her work!
PREY FOR THE DEAD Blog Tour
Thank you, Beem Weeks, for hosting my book’s blog tour today!
You can catch the tour at:
Welcome to the “PREY FOR THE DEAD” Blog Tour! @SusanneLeist @4WillsPub #RRBC
Greetings to all my readers! It is an honor and a pleasure to welcome author Susanne Leist to The Indie Spot today! Please make Susanne feel welcome by leaving a like and a comment below.
Take it away, Susanne. . .
PREY FOR THE DEAD Blog Tour
A masquerade party where a human vampire wears a vampire costume. Where is this? Oasis, Florida. Vampires and hybrids like to play. They own the night!
Enjoy an excerpt of PREY FOR THE DEAD where Todd and Gregg show their fangs in their quest for Linda. Shana is coupled with Sheriff Sam. The rest of the players have vampire blood running through them.
Todd stepped in front of Linda. Dressed in a black outfit with a long cape, she could tell it was him even though the matching mask concealed the top half of his face. Todd wears his arrogance well.
He scowled at her.
She tapped Gregg’s shoulder with her finger and nodded toward Todd. Gregg wrapped his arm around her waist and frowned at Todd.
Todd leveled his dark stare at Gregg.
Shana rushed to greet them. “Hi, Linda, Gregg.”
After dragging her eyes from Todd’s, Linda smiled at Shana. “What a gorgeous costume. Are you Cinderella?”
“Yes, I am.” Shana spun in her blue gown, her auburn hair in a sleek chignon, her green eyes peeking from behind a gold mask with blue feathers. “And Sam is Prince Charming.”
Sam, wearing a white jacket, mask, and gloves, winked at her. Tassels hung from his gold epaulets; red pants completed his outfit. He favored Linda with a rakish grin.
Linda felt Todd’s gaze on her. She fluttered her eyelashes at him. “Kind sir, who are you this evening?”
Todd moved closer and bowed. “Dracula, madam, at your service.” He spread his long, black cape and rewarded her with a fanged smile.
“You might upset the vamps.” Linda held back a grin.
“Vampires admire Dracula; he’s a legend.”
“He wasn’t real. Was he?” Shana asked.
“He was.” Todd smiled.
Shana’s face fell.
Sam took Shana’s hand and led her to the dance floor.
Gregg cleared his throat before bowing. “Linda, can you honor me with a dance?”
“Yes, thank you.” She stepped into Gregg’s arms.
Todd stood alone, his countenance forlorn. He spun on his heel and walked across the dance floor.
Gregg’s left hand curled around her waist while the fingers of his right hand twined with hers. A tingling sensation traveled along her arm. Feeling safe in Gregg’s arms, she relaxed and watched the guests. Kings danced with Queens; Peter Pan twirled with Tinkerbell—an impressive sight; a gathering of strangers and acquaintances alike, the masks disguising vamps from humans and even a friend from a foe.
Across the room, Todd conversed with a blonde couple. The Duke and Duchess she’d met at Diane’s party. The two vampires Todd trusted most. Duke Alan Rutherford wore a moss green, brocade outfit with a gold crown, while his wife appeared regal in a burgundy gown with a white, stand-up collar at the back of her neck. From a distance, the dark color resembled wine or blood.
“Are those the Duke and Duchess Rutherford with Todd?”
Gregg’s gaze followed hers. “Oh, yes. Todd’s favorite vampires, dressed as Henry VIII and his beheaded wife, Ann Boleyn. Perfect. The king had a lust for blood.”
Dancers banged into them. Laughter and shouts rang loud. The guests became a blur of color for her, their outfits racier, more skin and pointy teeth came to the surface. Real or fake blood dripped from a few masked faces.
Gregg’s mouth nudged her ear. “Care to stroll in the moonlight?”
Todd watched as Gregg led Linda to the pool deck, his arm around her shoulder, his head bent to hers.
SUSANNE LEIST BIO
I have always loved to read. Agatha Christie, Alistair Maclean, Robert Ludlum, and many other authors filled my young imagination with intrigue and mystery. When I wasn’t reading late into the night, the TV shows—Murder She Wrote and Columbo—entertained me with tales of murder and suspense.
Over the years, my taste in TV expanded to include such shows as Supernatural and The Originals. I searched for paranormal, murder mysteries but found few at the library or bookstore. So, I wrote one.
A career in writing has been a big leap for me. Accustomed to the number-crunching field of budgeting and the hectic commodity markets, I left my first career and M.B.A. in Finance behind to pursue my dream. I do not regret my foray into literature for one moment. Fellow authors helped me make my way through the competitive field. I write every day and even tried my hand at poetry. If someone tells you it’s too late in life to try something different, they are wrong. It is never too late to follow your heart.
The Dead Game is the first book in The Dead Game series. It brings fantasy and the surreal to the classic murder mystery with dead bodies, suspects, and clues. It offers vampires, vampire derivatives, and a touch of romance to give spice to the mix. Once you read The Dead Game, you will never look at a dead body the same way.
In Book Two, Prey for The Dead, the suspense continues as The Dead use an exclusive club in Disney World and infiltrate the rich and famous. The Dead grow in power, and not even the sun or the swamps of Florida can weaken them. Linda–my main character–and her friends join with the human vampires or hybrids to defeat the evil forces threatening to control their town.
I hope you enjoy my books. The third book of The Dead Game Series is waiting for me to write.
SUSANNE LEIST’S SOCIAL MEDIA & BOOK LINKS
Book trailer: https://youtu.be/pILNxaD5XlI
PURCHASE LINKS:
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07PB9KG4P
Nook: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/books/1130732773?ean=2940161260111
SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/SusanneLeist
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/susanne.leist.98
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/susanne.leist/
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/susanne-leist
To follow along with the rest of the tour, please visit the ![]()
![]()
author’s tour page on the ![]()
![]()
4WillsPublishing site. If you’d like to book your own blog tour and have your book promoted in similar grand fashion, please click ![]()
HERE.
Lastly, Susanne is a member of the best book club ever – RAVE REVIEWS BOOK CLUB {#RRBC}! If you’re looking for amazing support as an author, or if you simply love books, ![]()
JOIN US! We’d love to have you!
Thanks for supporting this author and her work!
Welcome to the “PREY FOR THE DEAD” Blog Tour! @SusanneLeist @4WillsPub #RRBC
Thank you, Rhani D’Chae for sharing my tour today!
Welcome to the “PREY FOR THE DEAD” Blog Tour! @SusanneLeist @4WillsPub #RRBC
Today, I am privileged to host fellow #RRBC author, Susanne Leist. I hope you enjoy reading her post.
* * *
PREY FOR THE DEAD
Linda yearns for a simple life after the heartache she experienced in New York. She moves to Oasis, Florida, to make a fresh start. She and her new friends face supernatural forces. This was five years ago. Now, the town is peaceful once again. Tourists fill the shops and hotel. As soon as she sits back to appreciate her life, trouble hits.
This is an excerpt from Chapter One of PREY FOR THE DEAD:
Linda Bennett’s illusions of paradise cloaked and comforted her as she stood at the front window of her bookshop. Sunlight filtered through the tinted glass, a rainbow of colors falling on the leather couches and chairs.
The seaside town woke early with the dawn. Eight in the morning and tourists filled Main Street with a small group peering into Oasis By The Sea. Linda skirted the coffee table filled to reach the food counter on the far right wall where stands displayed cakes and pastries. She climbed onto a white-cushioned stool and waited for the first customer of the day.
The picture window drew her attention as the newspaper boy rode his bicycle, flinging newspapers at each door. Palm trees waved long fronds in the breeze resembling dancers swaying their arms to music. The sun peeked through the leaves from a sky stroked by an artist’s loving touch in alternating shades of orange and yellow. As shop owners unlocked their doors for the day, laughter trickled inside from the passing vacationers.
Linda closed her eyes. Ever since Oasis settled into its unique rhythm five years ago, she’d been living a life of bliss. Sunny days and chilly nights became the town’s mainstay. No returning creatures to ruin its perfect image. Her dreams of paradise and happiness appeared to be at last on the horizon. A soft sigh escaped her lips.
The ground beneath her rumbled.
Linda’s eyes shot open.
The sun retreated.
Birds fell quiet.
Glasses behind the counter rattled.
Then came the explosion.
The fun begins for Linda and her friends as they fight The Dead vampires. An exclusive club in Disney World and a showdown in the swamps of Florida await.
* * *
SUSANNE LEIST’S SOCIAL MEDIA & BOOK LINKS
Book trailer: https://youtu.be/pILNxaD5XlI
PURCHASE LINKS:
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07PB9KG4P
Nook: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/books/1130732773?ean=2940161260111
SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/SusanneLeist
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/susanne.leist.98
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/susanne.leist/
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/susanne-leist
* * *
To follow along with the rest of the tour, please visit the author’s tour page on the 4WillsPublishing site. If you’d like to book your own blog tour and have your book promoted in similar grand fashion, please click HERE.
Lastly, Susanne is a member of the best book club ever – RAVE REVIEWS BOOK CLUB {#RRBC}! If you’re looking for amazing support as an author, or if you simply love books, JOIN US! We’d love to have you!
Thanks for supporting this author and her work!
PREY FOR THE DEAD Blog Tour
Thank you, Bernard Foong, for hosting my tour today!
Welcome to the “PREY FOR THE DEAD” Blog Tour! @SusanneLeist @4WillsPub #RRBC
PREY FOR THE DEAD Blog Tour
Sometimes, it’s easier to tell a story in a poem. Let me present three poems I’ve written for THE DEAD GAME Series.
The first poem describes Linda’s fear of The Dead vampires. They appear in my first book, THE DEAD GAME.
From under the sea
they have come for me.
Rising from the deep
they come when I sleep.
Through the small town, they roam
looking for a new home.
Blending with tourists at day
but at night they get to play.
Blood-thirsty as they are,
they don’t have to go far.
They take sustenance within reach
leaving dead bodies on the beach.
Tourists flee the hotel
before they’re doomed to hell.
The evil one walks tall.
Our town will surely fall.
**************
In my second poem, Linda fears Wolf, The Dead leader, has returned for her in PREY FOR THE DEAD.
A nip in the air.
A chill in my bones.
The Dead will be here
And in our own homes.
Palm trees will shiver.
The ground will quake
Along the river
And by the lake.
Take me far away
From this creepy place.
I refuse to stay
And see his pale face.
Will Linda stand strong? I’m not telling.
*******************
In the third poem, Wolf is back in Oasis, Florida. Linda refuses to succumb to his passion. Will she fall PREY TO THE DEAD? She is tempted to the dark side.
He’s back.
How could this be?
I should have known.
He will never rest easy.
Without me to torment.
Without me in his arms.
A door opens.
He tempts me with sunshine.
His hand reaches for me.
My skin tingles from his touch.
He whispers promises in my ear.
I turn away from his sweet words.
He will come for me tonight.
He will appear in a new package.
I will be prepared and ready.
I will not be fooled again.
SUSANNE LEIST BIO
I have always loved to read. Agatha Christie, Alistair Maclean, Robert Ludlum, and many other authors filled my young imagination with intrigue and mystery. When I wasn’t reading late into the night, the TV shows—Murder She Wrote and Columbo—entertained me with tales of murder and suspense.
Over the years, my taste in TV expanded to include such shows as Supernatural and The Originals. I searched for paranormal, murder mysteries but found few at the library or bookstore. So, I wrote one.
A career in writing has been a big leap for me. Accustomed to the number-crunching field of budgeting and the hectic commodity markets, I left my first career and M.B.A. in Finance behind to pursue my dream. I do not regret my foray into literature for one moment. Fellow authors helped me make my way through the competitive field. I write every day and even tried my hand at poetry. If someone tells you it’s too late in life to try something different, they are wrong. It is never too late to follow your heart.
The Dead Game is the first book in The Dead Game series. It brings fantasy and the surreal to the classic murder mystery with dead bodies, suspects, and clues. It offers vampires, vampire derivatives, and a touch of romance to give spice to the mix. Once you read The Dead Game, you will never look at a dead body the same way.
In Book Two, Prey for The Dead, the suspense continues as The Dead use an exclusive club in Disney World and infiltrate the rich and famous. The Dead grow in power, and not even the sun or the swamps of Florida can weaken them. Linda–my main character–and her friends join with the human vampires or hybrids to defeat the evil forces threatening to control their town.
I hope you enjoy my books. The third book of The Dead Game Series is waiting for me to write.
SUSANNE LEIST’S SOCIAL MEDIA & BOOK LINKS
Book trailer: https://youtu.be/pILNxaD5XlI
PURCHASE LINKS:
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07PB9KG4P
Nook: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/books/1130732773?ean=2940161260111
SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/SusanneLeist
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/susanne.leist.98
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/susanne.leist/
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/susanne-leist
*******************
To follow along with the rest of the tour, please visit the author’s tour page on the 4WillsPublishing site. If you’d like to book your own blog tour and have your book promoted in similar grand fashion, please click ![]()
HERE.
Lastly, Susanne is a member of the best book club ever – RAVE REVIEWS BOOK CLUB {#RRBC}! If you’re looking for amazing support as an author, or if you simply love books, ![]()
JOIN US! We’d love to have you!
Thanks for supporting this author and her work!
PREY FOR THE DEAD Blog Tour
Thank you, Karl J. Morgan, for hosting my tour today.
Welcome to the “PREY FOR THE DEAD” Blog Tour! @SusanneLeist @4WillsPub #RRBC
Welcome to the “PREY FOR THE DEAD” Blog Tour! @SusanneLeist @4WillsPub #RRBC
Today, I want to introduce you to another wonderful #RaveReviewsBookClub author, Susanne Leist.
Let us learn about her latest novel.
PREY FOR THE DEAD, Book Two of THE DEAD GAME Series. The battle continues between the vampires as the humans from Oasis, Florida, are thrust in the middle.
I wrote a poem to share Todd’s point of view. The human vampire has fallen for my human protagonist, Linda, but Todd must compete with another for her love. The Dead vampires and The Watcher vampires face off in the final showdown. Will Linda choose Todd or the vampire Wolf?
“Brutal winds follow close on my heels.
Thunder and lightning join the crusade.
Fluorescent lights paint the night sky
In rings of orange, yellow, and red.
A vortex of horror in unending circles
Makes its way to the town of Oasis.
I wait with a sword in hand,
Secure in the knowledge that Wolf won’t win.
The Watchers have joined the battle.
I can see them on the hill beyond.
Their raincoats flap in the wind,
Revealing their hidden weapons.
We protect Linda from the devil,
Standing firm in the fighting winds.
The Father clutches his bible of spells
To help cast the evil from the town.
Humans, vampires, and human vampires
Have come together as one.
The last battle on this earthly planet
Will determine our fate.
Linda holds onto her friends,
Huddled together in the raging winds.
Will she choose wisely?
Will she choose me above The Dead?
The time has come for the showdown.
Time has slowed to a stop.
We raise our weapons above our heads
As we wait for evil to make its final appearance.
Wolf sports a new body.
But I recognize his deadly soul.
A new package for an old one
Does not change the battle to be won.”
The vampire Wolf walks to Linda, love deepening the green of his eyes. He offers his hand. She hesitates. Should she trust her heart? He appeals to her in this poem.
“Walk with me through the moonlit forest.
Let our feet graze the tips of the grass,
never touching down,
held aloft by our love and passion.
Follow me through the endless night
to a land where no man walks.
Only creatures as dark as the sky
dare to venture forth alone.
Love has no bounds or shackles.
We will be free to display our passion
without retribution from humanity
as long as you remain mine.
Come with me, my ice princess.
Step away from the burning plains,
where the heat burns your soul
and love is hampered by the living.”
Wolf extends his hand to me.
The words flow from him.
His lips never utter a sound,
but his meaning as clear as can be.
We can be together forever.
But the other has followed us.
Todd will fight for me
and never relinquish his hold on me.
His eyes burn red with passion.
Fire follows close on his footsteps,
scorching a trail through the grass,
melting his enemy’s cold trail.
They face each other.
Hot and cold from opposite poles,
dueling until the end of time
as they fight to the death.
I have always loved to read. Agatha Christie, Alistair Maclean, Robert Ludlum, and many other authors filled my young imagination with intrigue and mystery. When I wasn’t reading late into the night, the TV shows—Murder She Wrote and Columbo—entertained me with tales of murder and suspense.
Over the years, my taste in TV expanded to include such shows as Supernatural and The Originals. I searched for paranormal, murder mysteries but found few at the library or bookstore. So, I wrote one.
A career in writing has been a big leap for me. Accustomed to the number-crunching field of budgeting and the hectic commodity markets, I left my first career and M.B.A. in Finance behind to pursue my dream. I do not regret my foray into literature for one moment. Fellow authors helped me make my way through the competitive field. I write every day and even tried my hand at poetry. If someone tells you it’s too late in life to try something different, they are wrong. It is never too late to follow your heart.
The Dead Game is the first book in The Dead Game series. It brings fantasy and the surreal to the classic murder mystery with dead bodies, suspects, and clues. It offers vampires, vampire derivatives, and a touch of romance to give spice to the mix. Once you read The Dead Game, you will never look at a dead body the same way.
In Book Two, Prey for The Dead, the suspense continues as The Dead use an exclusive club in Disney World and infiltrate the rich and famous. The Dead grow in power, and not even the sun or the swamps of Florida can weaken them. Linda–my main character–and her friends join with the human vampires or hybrids to defeat the evil forces threatening to control their town.
I hope you enjoy my books. The third book of The Dead Game Series is waiting for me to write.
Book trailer: https://youtu.be/pILNxaD5XlI
PURCHASE LINKS:
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07PB9KG4P
Nook: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/books/1130732773?ean=2940161260111
SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/SusanneLeist
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/susanne.leist.98
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/susanne.leist/ BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/susanne-leist
To follow along with the rest of the tour, please visit the author’s tour page on the 4WillsPublishing site. If you’d like to book your own blog tour and have your book promoted in similar grand fashion, please click HERE.
Lastly, Susanne is a member of the best book club ever – RAVE REVIEWS BOOK CLUB {#RRBC}! If you’re looking for amazing support as an author, or if you simply love books,
JOIN US! We’d love to have you!
Thanks for supporting this author and her work!
