THE HOUSE WITHIN

Source:untrustyou

 

The wind blows through the trees,

ruffling the blanket of grass,

striking a path through the woods.

The path leads the way

to the house within,

to End House at Oasis.

 

THE DEAD GAME

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THE DEAD GAME BOOK TOUR

The Dead Game – Book Tour and Giveaway 6/6/2018 The Dead Game by Susanne Leist Genre: Paranormal Suspense Linda Bennett leaves New York for the slower-paced lifestyle of Oasis, Florida. She opens a bookstore and makes new friends. Life is simple that is until the dead body washes up onshore. She is horrified to learn that dead bodies and disappearing tourists are typical for this small town. Rumors abound of secret parties held by the original residents in their secluded mansions. Once night falls, the tourist-friendly community becomes a haven for evil and dark shadows. However, this is only the beginning. Linda and her group receive an unsigned invitation to a party at End House, the deserted house in the forest behind the town, a mansion with a violent history. They are pursued through revolving rooms and dangerous traps, barely escaping with their lives, leaving two of their friends trapped inside. It is up to Linda and her friends to search out The Dead and find the evil one controlling their once peaceful community. Can they trust the Sheriff and his best friend, Todd? THE DEAD GAME has begun.**Only .99 cents!** Add to Goodreads Amazon * B&N ​ ​Linda passed the empty tables by the tall windows when she felt her arm being tugged. Before she could react, she found herself being dragged through the open patio doors and onto the isolated garden path. She came face to face with the mighty Wolf and his trusted companion, Hayden. The grounds were deserted. Everyone had left the gardens, and she was all alone with the two wicked vampires. Wolf glared at Hayden. “Please let go of her arm; we are not animals. We never force ourselves on women.” “Chivalry among demons—I’m very impressed. Too bad your table manners and choice of dishes leave a lot to be desired,” Linda said. Her hatred of Wolf had just caused her to forget her low position in the food chain; she closed her mouth to stop herself from talking. In the future, she must remember that he was a vampire—the strongest one in the world and that he could easily destroy her at any time. Wolf didn’t seem the least bit focused on her. “I didn’t come here to play parlor games with you. I need you to convince Todd to join us. He can never be human or will ever be accepted by them. He belongs with us. He must stick with his own kind.” “He’s not like you in any way at all: he cares too deeply for people and is loyal to his friends. On the other hand, you and your kind enjoy killing too much and have no feelings whatsoever.” “Todd will never be accepted by humans or by his own kind. He will be an outcast with nowhere to go. He must join with us.” “Todd is human and will always be accepted by humans.” “Let’s kill her now, boss. She’s going to be trouble. I could take her away and no one will ever see her again,” Hayden said, grabbing hold of her arm again. Wolf strolled over to her with a wicked gleam surfacing in his eyes. “I have a much better use for her in the future. When she finally comes to her senses, she’ll realize that she will be better off with a real vampire with limitless powers than with a pathetic human. She’ll learn about intoxicating love and passion—not the games that humans play that pale in comparison. “Here comes the human. Let her go for now.” Linda was horrified to find herself wrapped in Wolf’s strong, muscular arms. She became hypnotized by his black eyes and tempted by his deep voice. He seemed perfect in every way. She only wanted to be with him. “I’ll be back for you.” Wolf held her tight against his body and whispered in her ear. “I love the way you stand up to me with your flashing blue eyes. Soon you’ll be mine, my beautiful ice queen.” Linda couldn’t move her body. She was stuck in some kind of trance…she couldn’t leave, didn’t want to leave if given the choice. His voice soothed her and made her think of love, passion, and great need: a need that could be satisfied only by him with his expert hands and mouth. She knew that one day she was going to be with him, to be joined with him. He lowered his mouth to hers and drew her into a swirling haze of unexpected feelings and desires. His mouth fully covering hers introduced her to a new realm of pure pleasure. His powerful form enveloped her, making her feel feelings that were foreign and untried for her. She couldn’t get enough of him. Linda tentatively began touching his face and then his body with an eager and unrelenting hunger. She didn’t know what she needed, but she knew that she wanted and desired this beautiful man standing right before her. Her past life was washed out of her mind, never to be considered again. Linda begged him to take her with him tonight. In response, Wolf lifted her in his arms, as if she weighed nothing, and turned to leave the party. His beautiful face looked victorious and happy. His black eyes filled with passion. She hoped that it was because of her. He looked down into her small face and gave a hearty roar. While Wolf carried her in his powerful arms, a dark shadow swooped out of the house and flew directly at them. Linda was knocked out of his arms, and Wolf was thrown across the patio. She looked up to see who had attacked them. It was Todd, his eyes a deadly shade of green, standing there panting. Linda backed away in horror. Todd’s eyes cleared and returned to their original dark color. Then he looked at her. “Don’t ever be afraid of me. I’m here to protect you.” Then he was struck down by Wolf. ​Book 2 releasing soon!! I have always loved to read. I grew up with Agatha Christie, Alistair Maclean and so many other authors who filled my imagination with intrigue and mystery. The TV show, Murder She Wrote, kept me entertained when I was not reading late into the night.  Over the years, my taste in books has expanded to include the supernatural and paranormal genres as reflected in my selection of shows, such as Supernatural, The Vampire Diaries, and The Originals. My first book, The Dead Game, is a paranormal suspense/mystery. It brings fantasy and the surreal to the simple murder mystery. It has dead bodies and suspects. However, it also has vampires, vampire derivatives, and a touch of romance to spice up the mix.Website * Blog * Facebook * Twitter * Amazon * Goodreads ​ What place did you have the pleasure of growing up? If you could, would you move back and raise your children there? I grew up in Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn. I don’t believe I would want to live there now. The neighborhood has changed. I have fond memories of my childhood. It is hard to go back and recapture what we’ve already experienced. Since my immediate family has passed on, it is better for me to move forward instead of going back.What is the first memory you have of books? When did you first realize you could write? My brother, who was eleven years older than me, loved to read. Since he was my role model, I followed his steps into the pages of mysteries and science fiction. He read Agatha Christie, Isaac Asimov, and Alistair Maclean. And so did I. I have always done well on reports written for school. I received comments such as insightful and organized. But I didn’t consider writing prose until I helped my daughter with her essays as she applied to college. We spoke about writing about my mother, her blindness, and later her dementia. The words poured out of me. That is when I first realized that I wanted, no needed, to write. Did you ever enter writing competitions as a child? If so, did you win any? I never thought of myself as a writer when I was growing up. I was a reader. I studied finance and marketing. I enjoyed science classes but never writing classes. If you were to choose, would you rather be a vampire or a shape-shifter? Why? I’ve always found vampires to be sexy and driven by their desires. They’re intriguing in their dark way. I first heard of shape-shifters on the T.V. show, Supernatural. Portrayed as creepy, some of them had extra-long tongues or resembled animals or monsters. I like my vampires to remain good looking until the end. Which of your favorite TV shows has inspired your writing the most? It is funny that you should mention this. The show, Murder She Wrote, planted a seed of one day becoming a writer. This seed never took root. I ignored it and went about my life pursuing a business degree. I wanted to be a writer like Angela Lansbury. How did the character Linda Bennett come about? Which person did you model most of her characteristics after? Linda Bennett is a form of myself. She desires to be happy above all else. A happily-ever-after seems to be forever out of her reach. But she’s determined to find it. Most of my characters are based on people I know but with an extra twist or two. Shana loves adventure and finds herself in trouble most of the time. I have a friend like that. But my friend doesn’t cross the line, taking her into abandoned houses or a vampire’s lair. Which secondary character in THE DEAD GAME are you particularly fond? Would you ever write a separate spin-off series for this character? You must be reading my mind. I’m fond of Shana. She is going to be the star of the third book in The Dead Game series. My fans like her, and she deserves a separate book. What were some things you learned about being an author when writing and publishing THE DEAD GAME that you never would’ve guessed otherwise? I would never have guessed how hard it is to promote a book. I spend about eight hours a day advertising on social media sites. I’ve opened blogs and a website to share poetry to find an audience. The hardest part is struggling to keep The Dead Game alive on Amazon. Amazon controls the publishing industry. “If you make it there, you can make it anywhere,” to quote the Mary Tyler Moore Show. I’m determined to keep my book #1 in vampire suspense for e-books for as long as I can. Between horror and romance, which scenes do you find easier to write? Were there any scenes or chapters in THE DEAD GAME that was particularly hard to write? Chapter One was the hardest to compose. The Prologue flowed through my fingertips. Then I got stuck. It is difficult to introduce a town and its residents while keeping the action going strong. The romance scenes have always been the easiest. In book two, which I have just finished writing, I included some hot scenes; and they were a lot of fun to write. I had to be careful: no fifty shades of vampires for me. Is there anything you edited out of this book? I edit each chapter and then go back to the beginning to make sure all points and plot twists are consistent. I haven’t edited out any significant scenes or chapters. Besides becoming an author, which you have accomplished, what are some other things on your bucket list? I would love to travel the world. Unless I win the lottery or become a bestselling author, that isn’t going to happen. I have dreams. If I didn’t, I wouldn’t be able to write. Would you say that writing is an innate talent or an acquired one? My imagination is innate, but the ability to create scenes and correct sentence structures is acquired. I’m still growing and learning. Are you working on anything new at the moment? Or are you playing with any new ideas of late? Book Two of the series should be ready to be released this summer. A group of authors has proofed it along the way. After it goes through an editing program, it will be off to the editor. Follow the tour HERE for exclusive excerpts, guest posts and a giveaway! June 6 kickoff at Silver Dagger Book Tours Mythical BooksJune 7 Tome Tender – REVIEW All the Ups and Downs June 8 Six Tinder Weeks Laurie’s Paranormal Thoughts and Reviews June 9 Readeropolis Twisted Book Ramblings June 10 3 Partners in Shopping, Nana, Mommy, &, Sissy, Too! June 11 A Mama’s Corner of the World Book Butterfly in Dreamland June 12 Declarations of a Fangirl Midnight Book Reader June 13 Book Review Virignia Lee Books all things paranormal and romance June 14 SnoopyDoo’s Book Reviews Book-Lover June 15 books are love Inside the Insanity June 16 Books a Plenty Book Reviews June 17 BookwormBridgette’s World June 18 Bound 2 Escape Brianna Remus Books June 19 Girl with Pen Sapphyria’s Book Reviews June 20 Life at 17 – REVIEW Aconite Cafe June 21 Eclectic Evelyn James Quinlan Meservy – Author June 22 Luv Saving Money Maiden of the Pages June 23 Viviana MacKade June 24 Ms. Cat’s Honest World June 25 My Chaotic Ramblings Paranormal Palace of Pleasures June 26 nanasbookreviews Rabid Readers Book Blog June 27 Jessica Rachow – REVIEW Ramblings of a Coffee Addicted Writer June 28 FUONLYKNEW – REVIEW eBook Addicts June 29 Scrupulous Dreams Stacking My Book Shelves! June 30 Stormy Nights Reviewing & Bloggin’ July 1 Jazzy Book Reviews July 2 Triple A Sylv.net July 3 Momma Says: To Read or Not to Read – REVIEW T’s Stuff July 4 Taryn Jameson Teatime and Books July 5 The Authors Blog The Book Dragon July 6 The Book Town The Pen and Muse Book Reviews https://widget-prime.rafflecopter.com/classic/49dc997/main.html

MY EYES HAVE SEEN

twenty1-grams

Wrzaski. by narva on DeviantArt

 

 

I’ve seen what I should’ve have seen.

My eyes won’t close for sleep.

My heart refuses to stop racing.

My tears have dried up.

My blood boils hot and steamy.

I’m lost in this world.

I’ll soon be one with the next.

 

TRAPPED IN HELL

lilipilyspirit

Sascha Schneider (German, 1870–1927), Eichenwald auf Ruegen (Oak Forest on Ruegen Island), 1925

 

The forest grows dark.

It has come alive.

Wooden arms reach for me.

Roots uncurl from the ground.

Trees shake and dance

to the moans of the wind.

Dark shadows follow me.

Moonlight teases me.

I’m trapped in hell,

where the sun doesn’t shine.

THE DEAD GAME

RISING FROM THE SEA

Source:weheartit.com

 

 

 

At night he appears.

Coming from the sea.

A mist rising from below.

Is he here for me?

THE DEAD GAME

 

NO SUN

Source:gothdolly

 

 

The moonlight shines on us all.

It has made the sun’s face fall.

It takes over the day from now on.

No more heat from its favorite sun.

Oasis will exist in the dark.

It’s scary in this deserted park.

I must get home before it’s too late.

Before my fate is sealed on this date.

THE DEAD GAME

 

I Bid Adieu

 Source: adrenaline

 

 

He stands frozen before me.

A vision too hard to see.

My love is ice cold to the touch.

I’ve missed him so very much.

Who did this to him?

It’s a deadly sin.

Someone will surely pay for this tonight

at the party for a vampire’s delight.

A glass dome for the dancing pair,

twirl past statues with frozen hair.

My kiss lands on his cold lips

as I grasp his frozen hips.

He watches behind still blue eyes

as I bid my hasty goodbyes.

I will come back for him.

I won’t let evil win.

THE DEAD GAME by Susanne Leist

THE END IS NEAR

THE END IS NEAR

“Life goes on,
But how can I?”

Lost in her suffering in a town of despair,
Linda knows not how to release herself from here.

She gazes out at the big bright moon,
Knowing full well what it will bring soon.

“Please save us from the evil forces at bay.
We can’t live through this for even one more day.

Will this night be the same as all the rest,
Fleeing through the night at someone’s behest?

Will we ever be safe again in our beds,
To lie down asleep and rest our weary heads?

I see the light in the distance.
We can offer no resistance.

They are here for us all.
This night the town will fall.”

 
THE DEAD GAME

IT’S ALIVE

 

 

 

areyou-stillawake

Puppet Master 2 (1991)

 

What do I see 

as I wake from sleep?

A puppet watching me.

 

It creaks.

It groans.

Its head spins.

 

It can’t be real.

It’s a wooden puppet.

No one pulls its strings.

 

It speaks

in a deep voice.

It can’t be alive.

 

It says,

“Time to play.”

I run to the door.

 

It can’t be.

It stands before me,

taller than me.

 

 

It can’t be.

But it is.

It’s alive.

 

THE DEAD RISE

 

The sun sets for the night.

The Dead rise up.

Time to run

before it’s too late.

The Dead take no prisoners.

The Dead Game