I’ve got a special treat for you today.
Taylor Dean is here to tell us about how she got started writing paranormal romance.
Then I have reviews for Lancaster House and The Middle Aisle.
But that’s not all. Taylor has a very special giveaway.
So, please welcome Taylor Dean and feel free to say hello!
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What inspired me to write a paranormal romance?
I write romance in all of its many sub-genres: paranormal, suspense, contemporary. The main theme is always ROMANCE. It’s what I love to write. My daughter called me one day and challenged me to write a paranormal story. It’s her favorite genre—and she doesn’t really enjoy romantic angst in other forms.
“Mom,” she said, “Let’s both write a paranormal story and see what comes of them.” I responded with, “My mind just doesn’t think that way.” Truth be told, I didn’t really want to write anything paranormal and I kinda dismissed the whole idea pretty quickly, even though I found myself promising her I’d think about a plot as we hung up.
Paranormal? Really? No way, I thought, I write about sweet ROMANCE, not things that go bump in the night. Not going to happen, I told myself. This was during the Twilight craze (has that ended?) and I figured the world had seen enough paranormal! Although I love Twilight, I admit it. Okay, back to the story. At about this same time, I was ridiculously addicted to American Idol. With the crazed excitement of a groupie, I watched every minute of the Season 8 finale.
And then it happened.
Who’d of thought that an American Idol performance could inspire a 90,000 word novel? Not me. But it did. Go figure.
How the heck did an American Idol performance inspire Lancaster House?
Good question. I’m not really sure myself, but somehow the visual kicked my imagination into overdrive. Season 8 of American Idol blew me away. I thought Adam Lambert was amazing in every single performance. During the finale, Adam once again sang his haunting rendition of ‘Mad World.’ Even my husband was impressed by this performance, and that’s saying a lot because he isn’t usually impressed by singing performances. (Ever) Adam performed while wearing vampire-like garb on a fog-shrouded stage.
This link is a very poor video of the performance. I couldn’t find another one and I’m surprised that there are not more links to it. I own a perfect copy of it that I purchased through iTunes. I watched it umpteen times as I wrote Lancaster House.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EEQyz0acKNo
It’s a haunting performance—like Twilight, the Musical or something! I remember saying to my daughter, “Now that’s how I pictured Edward.” My daughter, a book-a-holic, immediately corrected me. “That’s not how Edward is described at all, Mom.” She was right and I knew it, but I have this nasty habit of picturing the hero of the story the way I want to picture him, no matter how the author describes him. Adam wasn’t Edward. Not by a long shot. But, he was how I pictured Edward. There was only one thing to do.
Write my own story.
The visual of Adam rising up out of the stage amidst fog and then pausing before he began to sing, the way his movements were slow and dreamlike—all of it left me intrigued. It screamed paranormal story. What if a man appeared in my home looking like that? (sans the microphone!) What if he was a ghost? I would be scared and fascinated all at the same time. It was at that moment that Lancaster House was born.
It wasn’t quite that easy, of course. My hubby and I spent an entire car drive to Idaho (driving our daughter to college) hashing out all of the details of the story. By the time we arrived home, I had my story in my mind, beginning to finish.
And it was all due to one amazing performance sparking my imagination.
Thanks so much for sharing with us Taylor.
And now for my reviews.
To find out why Joy tried to kill herself, why she is under the care of Dr. Channing at Serenity HIlls, and why she is suspected of killing two men, we have to go back to the beginning.
When Joy first laid eyes on Lancaster House, she knew she had to have it.
She couldn’t wait to get started on the restoration. Couldn’t wait to bring the old house back to its former glory.
The work was slow but rewarding. She was doing one room at a time. She would go to bed exhausted and rise to start again the next morning.
After five hours of scraping and sanding the bannister, she took a lunch break. When she returned to finish up, she couldn’t believe her eyes. It was finished!
She told herself maybe she was confused, being so tired and all.
But the next night it happened again. She didn’t get the wall papering done.
In the morning, when she came downstairs, it was finished.
Now she panicked, racing through the house, but no one was there.
Not one to be scared, she knows she can figure this out.
Stop standing here like a ninny and figure this out. There has to be a logical explanation.
But there isn’t. And she is beginning to think the former owner, Andre Lancaster, is still living in the house. Either that or she is going crazy.
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Mini Excerpt for ya.
“You can see me?” he asked again, his tone urgent.
“Yes,” she whispered, unable to find her voice.
For several seconds he simply stared at her, his eyes smoldering. She trembled under his gaze, her bottom lip quivering. One hand reached up, his motions slow, and cupped her cheek. He let out his breath and closed his eyes as if the feel of her did something to him.
“I won’t hurt you Zoe.”
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But how can that be? He’s been dead for many, many years.
A really fun part of this story is the language. The slang from the 1920’s is quirky and I enjoyed reading how Joy figured out what Andre meant by some of the sayings.
Stuff like giggle water is alcohol. Makes sense. And Bank’s closed which means no kissing.
After you finish reading Lancaster House you tell me what you think. Is Joy crazy?
Did she just make up Andre and their passionate affair to keep from being alone?
Is Dr. Channing right in that ghosts don’t exist?
So many questions and an ending that will let you decide, or not.
I adored Joy and Andre and want a Lancaster House of my own.
5 Stars for this haunting love story.
And it continues in The Middle Aisle
Hmm, how do I tell you about this book without spoiling it. It’s hard to review the next book in a series.
In Lancaster House, you are left wondering if Andre is real or a ghost. Is Joy crazy as a loon, desperate for any kind of love, or is her house haunted?
In The Middle Aisle, you will still be wondering. You may think at some point, “Oh, now I see.” But then, as you read further, you are in doubt again.
Taylor Dean has written a series like none other. You are kept “in the dark,” figuratively, throughout both books.
I don’t recall ever being so unsure of my own conclusions in a book.
The love between Joy and Andre is very real and so endearing. But is Andre real? If he isn’t, then is their love real?
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Mini Excerpt
“You’re imagination intrigues and fascinates me, Zoe,” Wade commented, his voice cracking. He cleared his throat and ran his hands over his face. “Why don’t we take a break?” he suggested and quickly exited the room, stumbling on his own feet as he left.
It wasn’t possible, it just wasn’t possible, he thought, as his mind wandered to that moment…. Turns out it was possible, it just wasn’t real…
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And if Andre is real, then that makes the alluring, malevolent Adelle real as well.
Aah! I can’t say I ever really figured it out. But, I don’t have to. I feel it is up to each reader to decide for themselves. And whether you figure it out or not doesn’t matter. It is still a love story for all time. One that goes beyond the physical, to the otherworldly.
5 Stars for keeping me wondering.
That makes a total of 10 Stars for Lancaster House and The Middle Aisle.
I had these books on my kindle, but when I saw a giveaway on Sherry’s blog fundinmental, I just had to try to win the paperbacks, and I did!! Thanks so much Sherry.
Since then, I’ve went on to read Taylor’s “i have people.” You can read my review here.
And I’m getting ready to start reading Sierra. Next up will be the upcoming new release of Joshua’s Folly.
Thanks so much for your lovely books Taylor.
As long as you keep writing, I’ll keep reading!
Giveaway
You could win this really awesome swag pack from Taylor. Check it out!
One winner will get signed paperback copies of both books along with a tote bag, book marks, and a “Believe it, Know it, Accept it” pencil.
US Only
AND
Five winners will get:
e-book copies of both books.
E-book Giveaway is International.
To enter, please leave your email address, specify whether entering for swag pack or e-books, and answer this question,
“Have you ever been in a haunted house?”
Giveaway ends May 3rd.
Good Luck ya’ll!
About the Author:
Taylor Dean lives in Texas and is the mother of four grown children. Upon finding herself with an empty nest, she began to write the stories that were always wandering around in her head, quickly finding that she had a passion for writing, specifically romance. Whether it’s paranormal, contemporary, or suspense-you’ll find all sub-genres of romance in her line-up.
Lancaster House & The Middle Aisle, available in print or eCopy
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For all of Taylor Deans books go here.
and coming soon! 
For all of my giveaways go here.
For a list of free e-books go here.
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