Tag Archives: WRITING

One More Month

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That’s right, Tendrils of Passion releases on November 12!

Book two in the series, Murmurs of Evil, can be enjoyed without having read book one, but Tendrils of Passion is best read as a companion to the second book.

Here’s an excerpt from Tendrils of Passion:

Mrs. Melling tied Magdalene’s petticoat around her abnormally small waist. Once dressed and Magdalene’s hair arranged, she exclaimed, “You’re the pink of perfection!”
Looking in the mirror, Magdalene agreed that she looked like a lady off the pages of McCall’s Magazine, but she wasn’t happy.
“Smile, Magdalene. Let your radiance shine and he will not only want you, he will need you.”
A shiver worked its way from Magdalene’s head to toes as she recalled the demonic words Alexander had spoken as he’d seduced her all those months ago.
There is no want, only need.
Her hand went to her heart in an impulsive movement and she bit her lip to keep from crying out as the voice sounded larger than life in her head.
“You stay here until Leroy comes for you. I want you to have a grand entrance.”
With the click of the door, Magdalene knew she wasn’t alone. The tentacles were back, spiraling around her limbs and gripping her torso tighter than the corset. Unable to sit comfortably, she paced the room and fought the urge to give in.
Minutes later, she heard the Great Arrow start up. She rushed to the open window and watched Douglas pull away, one of her large crates in the backseat. If he had looked up, she would have cried to him to deliver her from the evil threatening to tear down her resolve against Mrs. Melling’s plans.
The minutes ticked by as Magdalene rubbed the wooden rosary bracelet she’d pulled out from her drawer holding her engagement ring. Finally, the rumble of a motor coming up the lane sounded through the cloudy afternoon. Hiding behind her curtain, she watched Claudio and Douglas exit the automobile, laughing. Resentment that they could be joyous while she battled demons took root. While she knew it illogical—and against her nature to hold grudges against either of the men—she couldn’t stop the bitterness from clouding her judgement and slinking behind the curtain when they looked toward her window.

In closing, here’s a sampling of what reviewers have said about the first two books in The Possession Chronicles. For more  information on the books–including ordering information–check out the website page dedicated to it.

Five Fortitude Facts

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I’ve been a little obsessive about The Possession Chronicles lately, but here are five facts about Fortitude:

  • My first book baby—though not my first manuscript written. (It’s the sixth book-length manuscript for me.)
  • It’s the result of five years of research and writing.
  • The novel has the most reviews out of all my books.
  • It has the distinction of being listed as a “Best Book for Kids” (grades 5-10th) from Grateful American Foundation for its historical accuracy and reader engagement.
  • It’s a standalone novel, but there are other writings that tie into it—“Courtship and Courage: A Fortitude Short” in the Hometown Heroes Christmas Anthology by Bienvenue Press and you can find Fortitude characters in The Possession Chronicles from book two on.

Have you read Fortitude? Do you have a favorite character? You’ll be able to see a couple of the main characters—and the next generation—in The Possession Chronicles. Happy reading!

Cover Reveal

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In just over two months, Tendrils of Passion, book three of The Possession Chronicles, will be released. I’ve completed the last major round of edits (only proofing to go) and this week I’m sharing the cover art. Created by Ashley Byland of Redbird Designs, it features key character Claudio De Fiore amid ruins, which represent the destruction sin has on the lives of the characters.

Tendrils of Passion by Carrie Dalby
I love the use of looming architecture behind the characters on the book covers. The look is cohesive and each gives insight into the featured characters. Do you have a favorite so far?

November will be here before we know it, so catch up on The Possession Chronicles today. Remember, you can claim a free digital copy of The Possession Chronicles prequel short story, “Masked Flaws”, by subscribing to my monthly newsletter. It’s a great way to introduce you to the historical setting and the main players or to dive deeper into the world and see how things began for some of your favorite characters the year before Perilous Confessions.

The Horizon

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Tendrils of Passion, book three of The Possession Chronicles, releases this November. The editor will have the manuscript back to me by one week from today so I can go through my next round of edits (which brings my total to around thirty editorial passes for this manuscript since I wrote the first draft.) I’ll have about two weeks to complete and return. Deadlines are always part of the writing journey.

That means the next few days I’m pushing to finish my current project–which involves a character in the above collage–so I can let that sit while I focus on Tendrils of Passion. Can you guess who I’m writing about? I’ve shared that information with my monthly newsletter subscribers, as well as posted excerpts from the first draft with my readers group. Those are the places you’ll hear news first–including cover reveals. I update the blog about twice a month to help those who don’t follow me on social media stay informed on the highlights of my literary news, but if you want more, be sure to check out all the places you can find me on the Contact page.

Time to get back to writing.

Summer News

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A few things of note during the summer heat.

First, the digital edition of Hometown Heroes: A Christmas Anthology by Bienvenue Press, is currently on sale for only $0.99. It’s a collection of five sweet holiday romances featuring local heroes in all walks of life–both contemporary and historical. My offering in the collection is “Courtship and Courage: A Fortitude Short Story.” It released last December and proceed benefits Cajun Navy Relief.
Bienvenue Press is doing another charity Christmas anthology this December. The 2019 release will benefit animal rescue. My new story, “Grace Shadowed” (a Possession Chronicles short), will be included. More information in the months ahead.

In other news, POSSESSED: Timeless Gothic Reads is hosting our summer read discussion August 4-10 on a special event page associated with our Facebook group. Our seasonal book–chosen by voting–is from the Gothic family saga genre and is Flowers in the Attic by V.C. Andrews. For the autumn read, we’ll be dipping into the classic American Gothic genre. Voting on the title to read will happen next week. Now is good time to join if you’d like to participate. The seasonal reads are optional for members. We do discuss, share, and recommend Gothic literature from all sub-genres (classic, horror, Southern, family saga, romance, etc.) at any time and Gothic authors are allowed to post promotional items on Fridays. Check it out–it’s not as scary as you think.

The second book in The Possession Chronicles released last month. Now’s a great time to read Murmurs of Evil as book three releases in November. I’ve heard from several readers that they enjoyed it even more than the first book, Perilous Confessions, and it’s the only book in the series that you can reasonably read without having read the book(s) before it. Check out the “Look Inside” option to try out the first five chapters or read for free on Kindle Unlimited.

Questions, comments, and reviews are always welcomed. Happy reading!

 

Murmurs of Evil Soundtrack

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The second book in The Possession Chronicles released two weeks ago and I’ve yet to disclose the full soundtrack. For newer readers, I’ve done soundtracks for my projects since I began writing as a teen. I also create mood music playlists and editing playlists, but today is all about the soundtrack for Murmurs of Evil. I’m providing links to the songs when available.

1906 ad cover Book2

 

  1. Last Look at Eden by Europe
  2. I Will Possess Your Heat by Death Cab for Cutie

  1. Magdalene by Boston

  1. Be With You by Mitch Malloy
  2. Surrender to Me by Boston

  1. Higher Power by Boston

  1. Dreams by The Cranberries

  1. The Prayer by Andrea Bocelli and Celine Dion

  1. Rainbow in the Dark by Dio

  1. The Courage of Others by Midlake

  1. Watch Over Me by Hanson

  1. If You Were in Love by Boston

  1. When I Look into Your Eyes by Firehouse

 

As always, the soundtrack showcases my eclectic musical tastes. And you can probably guess why I dedicated the book in part to Tom Scholz/Boston.

1906 Ad dedication

If you want more insight into my writing process, the characters, and the stories behind the stories, join Dalby’s Darklings on Facebook. (Now is the perfect time to join. We’re doing a group read discussion for Murmurs of Evil July 12-15, 2019–a virtual book club experience to get your questions answered and learn more about The Possession Chronicles as it relates to the newest release.)

Are there any songs that remind you of any of my stories or characters? I’d love to hear them.

The Final Countdown

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Two weeks to go until Murmurs of Evil is in the wild and my emotional state reflects that anticipation. I did the final look through after formatting and now it’s just waiting for that pre-order option to go live. Be sure to subscribe to my newsletter to be one of the first to get that ordering link.

My readers group on Facebook is a great place to learn about the behind-the-scenes information and tidbits about The Possession Chronicles, as well as my other writings. Take the link or search for Dalby’s Darklings. It’s a closed group, so you’ll need to request to join.

Another place for more visuals and fun is Pinterest. I have boards for all my books and more, plus one for The Possession Chronicles as a whole and several character inspiration boards for the main characters thus far.


You’ll hear from me next on release day. Until then, stay cool and keep reading.