UPDATE: The winner is…Amy Fendley!
*~*~*

Do you believe the spirit continues after death
and can communicate with the living?

This is a different question than asking if you believe in ghosts. Ghosts are often considered lingering echoes of a personality or energy tied to a place. Spiritualists, on the other hand, believe that when we die, our personalities transition to another plane of existence and can sometimes communicate with the living. Mediums claim they can contact these spirits and pass on messages to loved ones.

One town in central Florida that has become a hub for such beliefs is Cassadaga. Known by some as the “Psychic Capital of the World,” it’s a fascinating place for those curious about the paranormal. In Cassadaga, you can book a session with a psychic or medium, get your tarot cards read, have your astrological chart cast, or even try palm or tea leaf readings. The town also offers healing services and spiritual messages. Cassadaga was founded in 1894 by George Colby, a spiritualist from Lily Dale, New York, who said he was led to the spot by his spirit guide, Seneca.

My fascination with the occult drew me to Cassadaga years ago. During my college years, a friend and I spontaneously decided to visit and get a reading. However, with limited walk-in options for mediums, we took what we could get. I don’t remember much about the reading—it was pretty generic, and I felt a bit let down. Despite that, my interest in the town never faded.

Years later, after retiring from my career as a VA social worker and working on my fifth book, Witch Trial Legacy, which is set in the town, I decided it was time to revisit Cassadaga for research. I shared my plans with fellow writers from my local Romance Writers of America chapter, and two friends asked to join me. We set up a date and planned our trip.

The day of our visit finally came. My husband drove, while Adele, her husband, and Donna (names changed for privacy) rode along with us. We took the scenic route, adding an extra hour to our drive, and stopped for lunch around noon, thinking we’d reach Cassadaga shortly after.

But, as life would have it, Donna received an urgent call about her cat, which was seriously ill. Distraught, she asked to go home, and of course, we did. After eight hours on the road, we returned home without ever reaching our destination. Ironically, Donna’s cat ended up being fine.

A few months later, my husband and I made another attempt—just the two of us this time. The weather was perfect: sunny, with a light breeze, and not too humid for Florida. As soon as we arrived in Cassadaga, I felt a peaceful atmosphere wash over me. The pace of life there seemed slower, and everyone was friendly and welcoming. We explored the town, taking photos of the signs advertising readings and spiritual services. We had a lovely lunch at the Cassadaga Hotel, browsed the gift shop, and checked out the camp bookstore. Though I didn’t get a reading, the day left a lasting impression on me.

Since then, I’ve felt a deep connection to Cassadaga—it’s a place unlike any other. If you’ve been there and read Witch Trial Legacy, I hope the setting feels familiar to you. If you haven’t visited yet, I highly recommend you do!

Witch Trial Legacy
(The Cassadaga Collection Book 1)

Sybilla Sanborn must break a centuries old curse before everything she cares about goes up in smoke.

Sybilla is a nurse gifted with the ability to heal with her touch but cursed with visions of future tragedies she cannot prevent because no one heeds her warnings. With help from the mediums of the spiritualist town of Cassadaga, Florida, she learns she is descended from both the first person executed for witchcraft in this country and the man who accused her.

Conn Ahern is an Iraq war vet dealing with pain and PTSD while working as a paramedic and struggling to save the ranch his grandmother founded. He’s an atheist who wants nothing to do with the people of the town.

When Conn and Sybilla meet, sparks fly, but not always in a good way, and their relationship fans the flames of jealousy and revenge in someone who doesn’t want them to work things out.

During a séance, her ancestor’s spirit reveals how Sybilla can rid herself of the curse and save Conn, but the price may be too high.

Buy Witch Trial Legacy from Amazon

Contest

To win a $5.00 Amazon gift card, please reply to this post with your answer to the question I asked at the beginning: Do you believe the spirit continues after death and can communicate with the living?

About Katherine Eddinger Smits

From an early age, Katherine was captivated by fairy tales. After devouring the Brothers Grimm and similar collections, she eagerly explored mythology, legends, gothic romance, fantasy, and science fiction.

Growing up near Florida’s Weeki Wachee mermaid attraction, Katherine spent countless hours swimming in the springs, pretending to be a mermaid. Although she once considered auditioning as a Weeki Wachee mermaid, her true wish was to be a real one—a dream that, unsurprisingly, didn’t come true.

Since life as a mermaid wasn’t an option, Katherine earned a master’s degree in social work and dedicated her career to helping veterans and their families—a role she cherished.

Now in retirement, she has the time to immerse herself in reading and bring her imagined worlds to life. Spiced with mystery and suspense, her stories of fantasy and romance feature gifted humans overcoming real-life challenges in a contemporary world full of mages, mermaids, and fantastic creatures.

For a free short story, monthly contests, freebies, and fun, join Katherine’s newsletter community. Get Your Free Short Story!

That song by the Eurythmics is playing in my head this morning. I awoke at 4 A.M. but felt refreshed. When I drifted off before 10 last night, I was still floating on a little leftover fentanyl, was lifted a bit by the hydrocodone I took to ease the itchy ache of the new CHEMO PORT sitting just under my skin on the right side of my chest, and was assisted by the kick of the melatonin I took. I was determined my sleep would indeed be sweet and deep.

With sleep, all things feel possible. Without it, I’ve discovered, I can actually dip into depression—something I’ve never really experienced before—and I don’t like it. It changes me. So, I am looking at planning for better sleep come chemo week (next week).

So, with sleep in mind, here’s today’s challenge! See the pretty watercolor below? (Wish it was mine!) For a chance to win a $5 Amazon gift card, what helps you get a great night’s sleep? Or, tell me what she’s dreaming about…

Well, the day I had dreaded came yesterday. I woke up, showered, and as I was rubbing my hands through my hair to swipe away the suds, my fingers pulled away clumps of hair. It was worse when I stepped out of the shower and attempted to blow-dry my hair. My brush couldn’t get through the knots of hair and pulled our more clumps.

I gave up and called out to my girls. My dd and the 20-year-old went to work, first completing the blow-dry without bothering to brush my hair, then using my SIL’s hair clippers to shave my head. We’d been preparing for this day. I’d made tons of jokes about what my head would look like. I’d imagined a bowling-ball-round kopf. Or worse, the bald woman in Total Recall.

Or perhaps Uncle Fester.

Actually, with a little well applied smoky-eye makeup, I could be a sexier “Aunt Festrine.” Hmmm…

When the 15-year-old got home from school, she said, “You know, you look like The Ancient One in Dr. Strange.”

And I’m okay with that.

Hair is only hair. I met with the oncologist today, wearing one of my chemo hats to protect my head from the sun and spare people’s eyes. We went through where we were going with treatments. I had another white blood cell booster shot. I’m set for port surgery on Thursday and another round of chemo next Monday. I’m marching on.

And just to keep it real, here’s me after the girls shaved me bald. There will be no tears. It’s just hair…

Seattle and Western Washington are known for rain. I called my Seattle-based series Rain City Tales. After about nine months of rain, however, the summer switch gets flicked on, and we enter our drought. It usually goes from about July 6^th into mid-September. During that time, we get dry and hot, increasingly so in the last few years. With that dryness comes the potential for fire. This year, Western Washington didn’t have many fires, and the offshore winds kept the smoke from Oregon and Idaho fires blowing away from us. British Columbia and Alberta, Canada, have also seen some fires, a large one devastating a third of the historic town of Jasper and burning large swaths of the Jasper National Forest. Each time these fires flare and ravage the land and communities in their path, my thoughts are drawn to the brave firefighters who battle these blazes, flinging themselves into danger and, at times, paying the ultimate price to save others.

This year, I published two books featuring firefighters, wanting to honor the brave work they do. The first, Throuple Honey, highlights a smoke jumper who lost his husband in a fast-moving fire in a national forest. Shane Ward didn’t have all his gear when he jumped into a fire zone with his husband Corder Mitchell. Corder sacrificed himself for Shane, and now Shane must pick up the pieces and move on. He leaves the profession and takes up beekeeping across the mountains from Seattle. The couple he works for, Emmett Simpson and Dante Scarletti, run a farm outside of Wenatchee, Washington. They’ve been in a slump with their relationship for months. Shane’s arrival sparks a rekindling of their relationship and a further bonding with the grieving fireman as they help him heal from his staggering loss.

The second book, Blaze of Cortez, is the eighth installment of the Rain City Tales. It is a standalone story within the series, though characters from other books come in and out. In Ray Cortez’s experience, everyone leaves, including his family and his relationships. He doesn’t let anyone in, his heart having been broken too many times. When Ray returns to Seattle after fourteen years, he finds his coworker, fireman Leif Ramsey, to be a danger to his protective barriers. Leif isn’t out to his family or his workmates, and Ray won’t date a closeted man. The two are drawn together, and Leif takes a risk for Ray’s affections, but a fire at Ray’s estranged family’s home threatens to burn away the fledgling relationship he’s started with Leif.

To find out more about me and my writing, please hop over to Delilah’s Collections for my Get-To-Know-The-Author post. Throuple Honey and Blaze of Cortez are available on Amazon and Kobo.

Excerpt from Throuple Honey:

Love is like honey—you might get stung, but the rewards are sweet, and they stick to you.

He should’ve checked his gear. Should’ve made sure.

Shane Ward scanned his smoke-filled surroundings, hoping for a cave or somewhere else they could hide from the fast-approaching wildfire. The jump earlier that morning had promised a challenge, and Corder Mitchell, the man Shane had been married to for the better part of a decade, had thrilled at the chance to battle this two-thousand-acre blaze in the Mount Rainier National Forest. Their Lake City fire chief had been reluctant to let them both go on such a dangerous summer job, but Corder had been insistent, assuring the chief nothing bad would happen. Though Shane knew his husband couldn’t promise their safety, Corder’s two loves, firefighting and the outdoors, had merged on this assignment.

The tinder-dry conditions provided ample fuel, and the stiff, hot wind blowing against his back had doubled the size of the mid-August fire in less than two hours. The sun tried to penetrate the thick layer of brown smoke, only succeeding in casting an eerie, orange glow around them, punctuated by the light of blazing trees. Even through his mask, Shane could smell burnt wood.

Surrounded by the approaching flames, Shane tried to find a way out. Their carefully planned escape route had closed with a sudden and unexpected shift in the wind. Visibility worsened with more thick smoke choking the forest.

A trickle of sweat ran down his forehead. Heat blasted at his back from the approaching blaze. He focused on Corder. “See anything we can use?”

Corder shook his head, covered in his protective gear. “Got your shelter?”

Shane nodded, not wanting to tell Corder that he’d left it behind at base camp. There had to be a way out, and if there wasn’t, he didn’t want Corder doing something stupid because of his mistake. Loud cracks and bangs behind them reverberated through the trees, and Shane chanced a glance backward. A tall cedar had erupted in a geyser of flame, its sap exploding and breaking off significant pieces of the trunk.

“We gotta move.” Corder grabbed Shane’s gloved hand, and they took off running.

Spying a better vantage point, Shane tugged at his husband. “Over there. A clearing.”

With another nod, Corder changed their direction and made for the break in the trees. Tall, dry grass met their feet when they cleared the canopy.

“Shit, this’ll make things worse.” Corder glanced back. “It’s gaining on us.”

Tapping his gloved hand on Corder’s shoulder, Shane nodded at the burning trees on the other side of the clearing with dread. “It’s coming from all sides.”

“Time for the shelters.” Corder yanked the packet from his gear and extended the metallic shelter. He paused, glancing back. “Hurry up. It’s almost on us.”

Shane hesitated but finally had to confess his predicament. “I didn’t check everything this morning in the rush to get on the chopper.”

Corder went still. “You don’t have your shelter?”

Shaking his head, he pointed at Corder’s. “Lie down, face into the ground, and I’ll cover you up. No use in both of us dying.”

“No fucking way. It was my idea to do this job.” He shoved at Shane, trying to push him down. “Besides, I have a second one inside my pack.”

Reluctantly, Shane lowered himself to the ground. “How do you have two?” He glanced past Corder. The fire had almost reached them.

“Hurry up,” Corder said, nodding at the ground. “I need to get you covered up and get mine set up over there.” He pointed toward the edge of the clearing where a section of the grass had either been tamped down or eaten by something.

Unable to clearly see his husband through the helmet, he couldn’t read any expression under the tinted visor. He lay face-down on the ground.

“I love you, Shane.” Corder threw the shelter over him.

About Brent

Though writing most of his life, Brent came to romance in 2012. With the support of his husband and his two romance novelist cousins, Brent embarked on a writing career. He’s loving the journey, finding inspiration and a story everywhere he goes, whether it be staring out the window at the local coffee shop, tucked in a booth at his favorite pub, driving through each of the fifty US states, or riding the train to explore the world. Keep up with Brent and his stories on his website, Facebook, and Instagram.

I’m updating plans for the week. I have to cram as much as I can into this week because next week is chemo on Monday, and based on the last round, I know I’ll be toast for the rest of the week. I’m trying to get a little ahead of myself and pre-post some things, so I don’t have to even think about work next week. We’ll see. I’m still not functioning at my pre-chemo level—and I do know how ridiculous that sounds, but I have to have goals!!!

Report Card

Last week…

1. Recovery from chemo continued. Insomnia, lack of stamina are lingering issues. I had a blood draw on Thursday and had to rush to Hot Springs to the main clinic for a white blood cell booster shot. My WBC count was in the toilet.
2. Workwise? Progress was uneven. On good days, I powered through edits for myself and one author.
3. My daughter, the girls, and my SIL continue to be awesome. They get me to my appointments, see that I’m fed, and make sure I’m included in some family activities so that I feel “connected.” They keep me grounded and happy.

This next week…

1. This week will be ungodly busy. I have an appointment with my oncologist, an appointment with the surgeon who will install my chemo port, and the port surgery at O-dark-thirty on Thursday.
2. I will complete revising and upload Once Upon a Legend, which releases on September 17th!
3. I want to wrap up, Ignition. It’s the fourth and last book in the Delta Fire series. I moved the release date to October 1st.
4. I’m working on editing projects for three authors this week and am determined to complete two.
5. Hopefully, I’ll get out of the house this week for something fun. I want to stretch my legs at the flea market. I have to start walking since I can’t swim—and it has to be this week because next week is chemo week.

Open Contests

1. Gabbi Grey: A Little Risqué (Contest) — This one ends soon! Win a FREE eBook or audio book!
2. Krysten Lindsay Hager: Top 10 Favorite TV Shows to Escape With (Series FREE in KU!) — Be sure to pick up the series for FREE in KU!
3. Saturday Puzzle-Contest: Signs of Fall…? — This one ends soon! Win an Amazon gift card!
4. Happy Labor Day! (Contest) — Win an Amazon gift card!
5. Word Search: Signs Fall is coming… (Contest) — Win an Amazon gift card!
6. Saturday Puzzle-Contest: Movie Night! — Win an Amazon gift card!

UPDATE: The winner is…Steph!
*~*~*

Did you notice I didn’t post yesterday? Sorry about that. I posted daily without fail for over five years. Now, if I’m tired and I don’t have a guest’s post, I just won’t. Rest has been my priority. Insomnia has been a thing for the past few weeks. I can be plenty tired when I lay down, but the moment my head hits the pillow… Well, at first, it was due to painful muscles and joints. I got into the habit of sucking down a hydro at night, but it doesn’t really help with sleep. Last night, my dd gave me a melatonin gummy, and I slept for 7.5 hours!!!!!  I feel sooooo good. The only other thing that happened this week was I had a blood draw, and the clinic called me a couple of hours later and told me to get to Hot Springs ASAP because my white blood count had dropped into the dumpster, and they needed me to come in for an injection to help with that. So, my poor dd had yet another appointment to take me to. Next week’s calendar is pretty full, too. Multiple appointments, my port surgery, finally. Then, the following week, I’ll be sitting in the chemo chair again. Ugh. I’m still trying to figure out the rhythm of the appointments and how they affect my body so I can try to get to a new normal.

But enough of that!

All the girls are home today, so we plan on having a lazy movie day later this afternoon. Pizza and The Proposal, I think. The 11-year-old’s first celebrity crush is Ryan Reynolds, so we thought that would be fun for her. In the meantime, I have some work I need to get out of the way. The weather has taken a sudden turn. The air is a little nippy outside. It’s almost sweater weather. That’s not nearly as good as swim weather, but we have to enjoy the change of seasons. It’s that or be grumpy throughout the Fall, and that’s not permitted!

I hope you all have a lazy, pleasant day. Solve the puzzle then tell me what you’re planning to do for a chance to win a $5 Amazon gift card!

Salute et bonjour. Laissez les bons temps rouler!

In the words of Kool and the Gang, “Celebrate good times. Come on.” Today is a celebration. It’s finally here. Today is the release of my newest novel Demon Rodeo.

What is Demon Rodeo? It’s a genre mashup. If you’re looking for a palate cleanser from the traditional straightforward genres, this may be a book for you.

1. Romance: The love story and romance take center stage.
2. Contemporary: It is set in modern times. It is not a western.
3. Sports romance: Bull riding and rodeos are sometimes overlooked as being a sport.
4. Cowboy romance: The MCs are bull riders, and the setting is the rodeo circuit.
5. Gay romance: This is a M/M romance and has LBGTQIA+ representation.
6. Spicy romance/Steamy romance: This book isn’t “smut,” but it does have some mature themes and language. It definitely is not for the kiddos.
7. Multicultural: The MCs as well as supporting characters all have diverse backgrounds. Many are Creole and Cajun. Multiple racial and ethnic groups are represented (including their language. A glossary is included).
8. Paranormal romance: This story contains elements not explained by science. However, given the expansive definition of paranormal, some readers may describe the story as supernatural or the occult.
9. Trope romance: Some tropes seen in Demon Rodeo are friends-to-lovers, small-town vibes (set in multiple places but some are small towns), forbidden romance, and workplace (rodeo circuit) romance.
10. It is not a romantic comedy (romcom), but it contains humorous scenes. It contains a lot of sass and sarcasm.
11. Southern storytelling romance: This isn’t an official romance category, but I include it because it may be important to some. In the South (although not all southern locations and not every southern person does this), it is not uncommon to hear stories relayed with anecdotes and “roundabout” talk. If you don’t like chatty characters, then Demon Rodeo may not be your cup of tea.
12. It is the first book in the Chasing the Buckle series, but it is written to be read as a standalone.
13. It is told with a dual point-of-view (POV).

Basically, if Brokeback Mountain, 8 Seconds, Poltergeist, and Supernatural had an orgy, Demon Rodeo would be the lovechild.

As part of my celebration, for the last thirty days, I have uploaded a post on my blog. These posts are all related to a theme or subject depicted in the story. These posts do not contain any spoilers or describe any scenes. But it can give a feel for the type of storytelling.

I had planned to do a giveaway. Well, I am doing multiple giveaways. Unfortunately, I will not be able to host one exclusively here at this time due to time constraints. But if you’re interested in winning a mystery box, head over to my TikTok account for entry. While you are there, you also can watch videos about Demon Rodeo.

Demon Rodeo

In the cutthroat rodeo world, Cajun bull rider Easton Faucheaux harbors a secret crush on his best friend and rival, Royal Guérin. As they grapple with their forbidden attraction amidst mysterious occurrences in the arena, they must choose between concealing their feelings or risking it all for a love that defies convention.

Cajun rodeo star Easton Faucheaux wants to win another bull riding championship but has three problems. First, he hasn’t completely healed from an injury, and his sponsors aren’t convinced he’s still competition material. Second, strange things are happening in the arenas that no one is acknowledging. And third, Royal has inundated every nuance of his thoughts. Not only is Royal his best friend and biggest competition, but he’s also the sexiest man Easton has ever seen. The mere thought of screwing up their friendship is enough to keep Easton’s lips clamped.

***

Royal Guérin has always confided everything to Easton—well, almost everything. He does have one secret that he’s never shared despite wanting to. However, with the finals nearing, protestors picketing, resurfaced feelings of his father’s abandonment, and other bizarre happenings that can’t be explained by natural occurrences, now isn’t the time for confessions.

Life is complicated without lopping more onto it. So, whose idea was it to visit a psychic? Oh, that’s right—a new competitor has popped up out of nowhere. Now, there’s another secret to conceal. Remaining silent is a struggle, but Royal will do anything to protect Easton.

Both athletes figure it’s best to remain silent—that is until silence isn’t an option anymore. The strangeness just got dangerous, and they find themselves embroiled in a deadly game of survival—mentally, emotionally, and physically.

Order:

⇨ Amazon: https://readerlinks.com/l/4174852

⇨ All Stores: https://books2read.com/u/bP8RG7

So, that’s it. Come celebrate with me. Let me know your thoughts in the comment section.  If you like this post, please click the like button and share. Your feedback allows me to know the content that you want to read.

Until next time, happy reading and much romance. Laissez le bon temps rouler.

If you’re not following my blog, Creole Bayou, what are you waiting for? There’s always room at the bayou.

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 Locker Room Love Series

• Out of the Penalty Box (book #1) One minute in the box or a lifetime out.
• Defending the Net (book #2) Crossing the line could cost the game.
• Ice Gladiators (book #3) When the gloves come off, the games begin.
• Penalty Kill (book #4) Let the pucker begin.
• Future Goals (book #5) The future lies between a puck and a net.

About the Author

Hi, I’m Genevive, a blogger and contemporary sports romance author. My home is in South Louisiana. If you like snark and giggles with a touch of steamy Cajun and Creole on the side, I may have your poison in my stash of books. Drop by the bayou and have a look around. The pirogues are always waiting for new visitors.