Today’s author shares her collection of paranormal short stories focusing on horror, romance, and suspense – something for everyone! And she may or may not have stayed in a haunted hotel. Welcome Suzanne Burke!
My grateful thanks to Teri Polen. I’m so delighted to be featured here today. It’s an honor to appear with the wonderfully talented authors taking part in this exciting tour.
Creepiest thing that’s ever happened while you were alone?
I still get a little spooked just thinking about this. My daughter and I had checked into a hotel on the outskirts of the small country town where we planned on relocating. She planned on catching up with friends in the area, and I looked forward to an early night. She’d headed off, and I enjoyed take-out Pizza and watched a vaguely entertaining comedy on T.V. I headed to bed and snuggled down for sleep. The sound of the television woke me. I figured my daughter had arrived home, and I was more relaxed and content in knowing that she was safe for the evening.
The television volume increased and I recall feeling surprised. My daughter is normally so considerate of other people. I finally gave up on sleeping and walked out to the only other room to ask her to turn down the sound. She wasn’t there. I looked at the television and grunted, a little surprised and annoyed with myself. I’m one of those people that makes certain all the power points are switched off before retiring for the night. Obviously, I’d missed one. I walked across to the tv and found it was indeed switched off from its only power source. I have no explanation that makes any sense to me at all. Suffice it to say I spent the next few hours sitting and watching the door. We checked out first thing next morning.
You’re home alone, but you hear footsteps in your house–what do you do?
Ah …good ol’ fight or flight? Well for starters I don’t call out in a shaky voice “Who is it?” Can you imagine the reaction if a voice that sounded vaguely like Darth Vader responded with an evil cackle, “I’m your immediate future.” Eeek! Seriously? Then of course, if I were a character in one of my books I’d go all Lara Croft on that intruder’s ass. In the real world, I would likely drop and roll under the bed and dial 911. Or Ghost Busters … I do love those uniforms.
Are you superstitious?
My initial response would be, “Who me? No.” But if you ask me that question again on a Friday the 13th that happens to fall on a full moon … during a solstice … and I’m standing under a ladder stroking a black cat you’ll likely get a completely different response.
What’s your work schedule like when you’re writing?
I needed to think about this. I’ve never really looked at what schedule I keep. I’ve discovered that I don’t really have one. I’m disabled and can no longer work outside my home, and that hands me the luxury of time. Apart from regular meal breaks and the few hours of catch up time I spend with my daughter and grandson each day, I have the wonderful freedom of writing when and as the muse directs me. I can be found sitting up all night when a character grabs me and holds me hostage. I sleep very little but do tend to crash and burn when I ignore the warning signs and find myself needing to sleep for twenty-four hours straight. Chaos anyone?
What do you like to do when you’re not writing?
I read voraciously. I like stretching my comfort zone and exploring genres and authors that are new to me. It’s so exciting when you read something truly memorable. I wind down by listening to music and enjoy watching a myriad of shows on Netflix.
What are you working on now?
I have just (yesterday) completed the 1st (Unedited) draft of my new book. This one is a full-length thriller with the working title of “Whatever It Takes.” Set in Hollywood. Here’s a sneak peek at the book blurb.
James Kincaid had it all.
He’d made it the ‘A’ list in a town that prized and idolized winners above all else.
Then life began exacting a price that no man could be expected to pay as the people he cared about began dying by anything other than natural causes.
He couldn’t move on with the dream without knowing why.
Andi O’Connor was the woman he’d hired to do ‘whatever it takes’ to find him the answers.
Could this disenchanted, ex-homicide cop uncover the truth without adding to the growing list of those already sacrificed on the altar of a serial killer’s insanity?
MIND-SHAFT BLURB.
An Anthology of Paranormal short stories. Horror, Romance, and terrifying Suspense.
Sisterly Love. … Paranormal Horror. After the tragic murder/suicide of her parents, Pippa, at just Nineteen-years of age, finds herself taking on the full responsibility for raising her fifteen-year-old sister, Emma. Emma is … more than just a little different. The body count is increasing. Nothing and no one is as they seem.
Halloween Homecoming … A Halloween party is the perfect venue for serving justice on the menu. Leighton Caulfield and his Lawyer are about to get their just desserts. In a way that nobody is prepared for.
A Place So Cold … Children are missing! Time is running out. Can the stranger from Australia lead the rescuers to them in time?
Spin! …Doctor Cameron Christopher is concerned that his patient Holly Daniels is caught in a downward spiral into complex Dissociative Disorder. Using Hypnotherapy he takes her back to explore when the nightmares began. Nothing in his experience as a Psychiatrist prepared him for what lay dormant … and waiting.
The Director’s Cut … A Paranormal Romance beyond time. Award-winning Director, Christopher Manning is searching for far more than a location for his next blockbuster. The emptiness that has permeated his entire life is crying out for resolution. Join him as he seeks the answers.
Mind-Shaft … Victoria Denton served revenge swiftly and without mercy. Her future happiness seems assured. If only the past would remain where it should.
AUTHOR BIO:
Suzanne Burke resides with her daughter and grandson in a small country town located hundreds- of-miles to the west of her previous home in Sydney Australia.
Suzanne had long wanted to write, life interrupted and she didn’t begin her journey into the world of writing until she was in her early fifties.
Suzanne has written her memoirs under the author name of Stacey Danson, both her non-fiction books have ranked in the top 100 paid in kindle on Amazon. “Empty Chairs” and “Faint Echoes of Laughter” continue to earn wonderful reviews.
Suzanne writes her powerful Thrillers “Acts Beyond Redemption” and “Acts of Betrayal” and her Paranormal anthology “Mind-Shaft” as S. Burke.
SOCIAL MEDIA & BUY LINKS:
Author BLOG:
https://sooozburkeauthor.com/
TWITTER
@pursoot
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/StaceyandSuzie
Amazon Author Page”
https://www.amazon.com/Suzanne-Burke/e/B01G3JUXVW/ref=dp_byline_cont_ebooks_1
PURCHASE MIND-SHAFT
Books and Such 
The TV story is creepy! Nice to see you here, Soooz.
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That kept happening to our living room TV, Staci. Middle of the night it would turn on, or hubby or I would have turned it off, only to have it come back on a few minutes later. Turned out to be related to the Amazon Fire stick. As soon as I disconnected that, no more problems. But Alexa still talks out loud at random times.
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Alexa creeps me out. I don’t think I’ll ever buy something that has so much control over my life. I already suspect my laptop is plotting my demise. I don’t need my entire house to join in the uprising!
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😊I still get a shiver when I think about it, Staci. It’s great to be here. Thanks so much for stopping by.
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The Spin! story sounds scary. Imagine uncovering something evil living underneath someone’s conscious mind, eeeek!
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It sure sounds compelling, doesn’t it, Priscilla? Lying there, dormant.
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😊Thanks for stopping by, Priscilla. I have to admit that ‘Spin’ is my favorite in the collection. I had such a marvelous time creeping myself out as I wrote it.
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Love your answers Suzanne
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Thanks for stopping by, Shannon – have a great week!
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You too!
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😊Thanks so much, Shannon.
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I love the story intros for Suzanne’s featured book. Those stories sound terrifying, and who wouldn’t want to find out the outcome?
I’ve had the same thing, that happened with the TV, happen with a radio. I thought my partner had put batteries in the back, but alas there were none. Since getting rid of the radio, we now have the same problem with the radio in the car changing the channel and switching itself on and off when it likes. Of course it never does it when we take the car into the garage for a service.
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Glad it’s not happening to just me, Hugh. Whenever I take a car in for some weird noise, I get the standard response – ‘We can’t reproduce the sound.’ That’s freaky with the radio and no batteries – and now the car!
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Eeek! So many things happen that are inexplicable at the moment. I perpetually get the feeling that we are not ready or intended to understand just yet.
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I’ve named the car Christine. Now I wondering if Stephen King’s novel, by the same name, is coming true. 😱
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😊Hi, Hugh! Thanks so much for stopping by. I appreciate your comments on my book. The T.V thing gave me a shiver as it was disconnected from the only available power source. I’ve heard numerous cases of this type of thing happening, and so many of the instances have no ‘logical’ explanation. ‘Fascinating’ as Mr. Spock would say.
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I never know if my comments go through since that last Apple IOS upgrade. I hope this is not a repeat. It is nice to see you here where you belong, Suzanne. Your latest book sounds like it might be a departure for you. I enjoyed your answers and thank Teri for having you here today.
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Those descriptions just grab you, don’t they, John?
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They do. 😀
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😊How lovely to see you drop by, John. Thank you for the kind comment. The latest book is a departure from my black-ops books. This one’s a thriller with a side order of romance. I had a marvelous time writing it.
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Excellent. Noting like doing one that is enjoyable. 😀
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😀Each book comes with its own level of satisfaction. But I must admit this one was actually fun.
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😀
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The hotel story freaked me out. I think I would have been out in the hall or down in the lobby, LOL.
And speaking of laughing….I loved Suzanne’s answer to the question “are you superstitious?” Her wonderful sense of humor shines through 🙂
I’ve read Mind Shaft and it’s a gem, perfect reading for this time of year (or any time when you want an intriguing, creepy collection of stories). I have a special fondness for Spin!
I’m looking forward to Whatever it Takes. Thriller? Mystery? Hollywood setting? I am sooooo there! Can’t wait, Soooz! So great to see you here on Teri’s blog! {{hugs}}
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I’d probably have been there with you, Mae. And I also laughed at Soooz’s answer about being superstitious. You know I have a black cat, and I chose for my youngest to be born on a Friday 13th, lol.
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Teri, thank you so much for giving of your time and talent to organize and present ‘Bad Moon Rising’ I’m thrilled to have had the opportunity to join in with such diverse and talented company.🌹
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Loved having you join us this year, Soooz!
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I’m having a marvelous time! Thanks again, Teri.💗
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💗I’m happy dancing down here in Oz! I’ve just seen your great review of ‘Mind-Shaft’, Mae! Whoo-hoo! I’m so delighted you enjoyed it. As for ‘Whatever it Takes’ I had such a marvelous time writing it. I fell in love with my characters. (Not a good look as I’m prone to drooling) I’m thrilled to have the opportunity to take part in Teri’s amazing tour.
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How spooky about the Hotel and the television. Nice to meet you. ❤
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🌹Thanks so much, Colleen. I appreciate you stopping by.
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Great interview, Soooz. ❤️
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😊I had such fun writing my responses … with the exception of spooking myself all over again by remembering that night at that hotel.
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LOL! I have a creepy story to share as well. I totally understand what you mean. 😀
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Makes you wonder what went on in the hotel room before you got there, doesn’t it?
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Whew! Scared me! 😬
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We discovered around about twelve months ago that the hotel was built in 1828 so it certainly would have had some interesting history. If only the walls could speak … oh wait … maybe not such a great idea.😀
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