Thank you for joining us on the Release Day Party for The Clairvoyant's Glasses, a Paranormal NA suspense/romance by Helen Goltz (28 September 2015, Atlas Productions, 255 pages). PREVIEW: Check out the book's synopsis and excerpt below, as well as the promo Q&A with author Helen Goltz, and the two teaser guest posts in which she talks about "The Agony of Love", and about "Naming a Character and Other Tough Decisions". Read the first six chapters with Amazon Look Inside. The Clairvoyant's Glasses is FREE on Kindle Unlimited and Kindle Owner's Lending Library.
Trailer | Synopsis | Teasers | Author Q&A | About the Author |
Synopsis
When Sophie Carell was eight-years-old, her eccentric, clairvoyant great aunt, Daphne, predicted Sophie would be one of the greatest clairvoyants of her time. Sophie wanted to be a movie star. Her mother said not to worry about it—Aunt Daphne was daffy.When Sophie is called to the reading of Daphne’s Will, she is given a pair of glasses that will change her life. But that’s not all she acquires. Along with the glasses, Sophie ‘inherits’ a protector—the handsome and powerful Lukas Lens; plus brooding Detective Murdoch Ashcroft who is keen for Sophie to fill her aunt’s shoes and put her talents to work for him.
Sophie has to decide if she will focus on her acting career or explore her new-found clairvoyant skills. But danger lurks around the corner…
Teasers
Excerpt | Guest Post #1: The Agony of Love | Guest Post #2: Naming a Character and Other Tough Decisions |Excerpt
Sophie entered her aunt’s former office; she looked small surrounded by the huge wall-to-floor windows. Even the desk felt big as she lowered herself behind it, adjusting the chair and setting up her diary and laptop. She looked up and jumped with fright. A man filled the doorway—tall, well-built with dark hair, he appeared from nowhere.
“Sorry,” he said, stepping out of the light.
“You scared me; couldn’t you cough or something?” She covered her heart with her hand. “Who are you?”
The suited man stepped forward and offered his hand. “Sorry to upset you on your first day on the job. I’m Detective Murdoch Ashcroft.”
Sophie stood and shook his hand. “I’m sorry, I don’t mean to be cranky, but it’s all a little… scary at the moment,” She self-consciously straightened her pale lemon dress and then her hair. He was handsome, way too handsome for his own good, she thought.
He looked around. “Scary, huh? I’ve always loved this room.”
“So, you’re a detective, Detective Ashcroft? Hmm, then you of all people should know not to sneak up on unsuspecting persons.” Sophie moved away from the desk and to the window where two couches were placed. She indicated a deep leather chair opposite and he stepped forward and lowered his tall frame into it. She sat opposite.
“So, I expect your aunt mentioned me?” he said.
“Nope,” she answered which wasn’t quite true as she knew her aunt worked with the police, but she thought the detective’s ego seemed big enough to fill the room already.
“Oh.” He looked crestfallen. “But you inherited her skills and her… uh office.” He looked around again and returned his gaze to her. “I like what you’ve done with the place as they say.”
Sophie smirked. “I haven’t done anything yet, but throw out all of Daphne’s junk.”
“Yes, it’s called the minimalist look—clean, I like it.” Murdoch nodded.
“Me too, I can’t bear clutter,” Sophie agreed. “I got a huge bin delivered, threw everything into it and had them take it away.”
“You didn’t throw away Miss Sharpe by accident?”
Sophie laughed. “Goodness no. Besides she would have known in advance... she is worse than Daphne!”
Detective Murdoch Ashcroft laughed a hearty laugh. Definite potential, Sophie thought. She studied him; he had the darkest eyes she had ever seen and was ruggedly handsome, and no wedding ring. She imagined he could handle himself.
“Sorry,” he said, stepping out of the light.
“You scared me; couldn’t you cough or something?” She covered her heart with her hand. “Who are you?”
The suited man stepped forward and offered his hand. “Sorry to upset you on your first day on the job. I’m Detective Murdoch Ashcroft.”
Sophie stood and shook his hand. “I’m sorry, I don’t mean to be cranky, but it’s all a little… scary at the moment,” She self-consciously straightened her pale lemon dress and then her hair. He was handsome, way too handsome for his own good, she thought.
He looked around. “Scary, huh? I’ve always loved this room.”
“So, you’re a detective, Detective Ashcroft? Hmm, then you of all people should know not to sneak up on unsuspecting persons.” Sophie moved away from the desk and to the window where two couches were placed. She indicated a deep leather chair opposite and he stepped forward and lowered his tall frame into it. She sat opposite.
“So, I expect your aunt mentioned me?” he said.
“Nope,” she answered which wasn’t quite true as she knew her aunt worked with the police, but she thought the detective’s ego seemed big enough to fill the room already.
“Oh.” He looked crestfallen. “But you inherited her skills and her… uh office.” He looked around again and returned his gaze to her. “I like what you’ve done with the place as they say.”
Sophie smirked. “I haven’t done anything yet, but throw out all of Daphne’s junk.”
“Yes, it’s called the minimalist look—clean, I like it.” Murdoch nodded.
“Me too, I can’t bear clutter,” Sophie agreed. “I got a huge bin delivered, threw everything into it and had them take it away.”
“You didn’t throw away Miss Sharpe by accident?”
Sophie laughed. “Goodness no. Besides she would have known in advance... she is worse than Daphne!”
Detective Murdoch Ashcroft laughed a hearty laugh. Definite potential, Sophie thought. She studied him; he had the darkest eyes she had ever seen and was ruggedly handsome, and no wedding ring. She imagined he could handle himself.
The Agony of Love by Helen Goltz
“Everything you say, I’m feeling it too,” he assured her. He felt a sharp tinge behind his eyes. He cleared his throat, looked away and looked back at her. “I’m falling in love with you Lucy.”
We’ve all been there … that first month of love; the ecstasy and the agony of all the promise and all the fear.
The wanting to call, not wanting to be too eager; hoping every text message, email, phone call is them; impatient with everyone who is not them.
Lying awake at night thinking of them and wondering if they are thinking of you. Being wonderfully exhausted the next day.
Thinking about that first kiss, trying to remember to capture every second of it in your mind so you’ll never forget it. Going back over every word they have said, every compliment they have given.
Worrying about their ex, their friends of the same sex, how long it has been since their last relationship. Not being truly calm until you are together.
Ah, the anguish of love! Capturing all the emotions of a romance scene is a challenge for any writer and I hope in the scene in my paranormal romance The Clairvoyant’s Glasses, where Lukas tells Lucy he loves her, readers will understand his vulnerability and how brave he was saying that to her.
I’m inspired by some of the wonderful scenes of love and loss I’ve read by authors who have captured the ‘anx’ perfectly. Such as Kylie Scott’s description in Play when Anne thinks she’s lost Mal: “Anger and sadness owned me” and in Lick when Evelyn loses David: “I had to chase him out of my mind a thousand times a day.”
Charlotte McConaghy’s beautiful characters in Avery are so rich in their depth of emotions. As the love builds between Ambrose and Ava and they are yet to touch as lovers, Ava inhales as Ambrose is “sinking down to press himself along the length of me. My heart was beating so fast I thought it might give out.”
Finally, here’s a thought for the true romantics—there are theories as to why we wear our wedding ring on the fourth finger of the left hand. The Romans believed there was a vein in this finger, referred to as the ‘Vena Amoris’ or the ‘Vein of Love’ which directly connected to the heart.
Long live love.
We’ve all been there … that first month of love; the ecstasy and the agony of all the promise and all the fear.
The wanting to call, not wanting to be too eager; hoping every text message, email, phone call is them; impatient with everyone who is not them.
Lying awake at night thinking of them and wondering if they are thinking of you. Being wonderfully exhausted the next day.
Thinking about that first kiss, trying to remember to capture every second of it in your mind so you’ll never forget it. Going back over every word they have said, every compliment they have given.
Worrying about their ex, their friends of the same sex, how long it has been since their last relationship. Not being truly calm until you are together.
Ah, the anguish of love! Capturing all the emotions of a romance scene is a challenge for any writer and I hope in the scene in my paranormal romance The Clairvoyant’s Glasses, where Lukas tells Lucy he loves her, readers will understand his vulnerability and how brave he was saying that to her.
Charlotte McConaghy’s beautiful characters in Avery are so rich in their depth of emotions. As the love builds between Ambrose and Ava and they are yet to touch as lovers, Ava inhales as Ambrose is “sinking down to press himself along the length of me. My heart was beating so fast I thought it might give out.”
Finally, here’s a thought for the true romantics—there are theories as to why we wear our wedding ring on the fourth finger of the left hand. The Romans believed there was a vein in this finger, referred to as the ‘Vena Amoris’ or the ‘Vein of Love’ which directly connected to the heart.
Long live love.
Naming a Character and Other Tough Decisions by Helen Goltz
Okay, it’s not like you are naming your first-born, but it might as well be. That name you choose for your characters must reflect the character through thick and thin; they have to live up to it or down to it; it might have to be sexy or tough or mysterious.
When choosing a name for my masculine stars in The Clairvoyant’s Glasses, I chose the name Lukas for my male witch because it was sexy, interesting and old-world. It didn’t lend itself to nicknames. For the street-smart police officer I picked the name Murdoch. I worked with a Murdoch once and the name says ‘reliable, strong, solid’ to me. Everything my Murdoch is. I looked up popular Irish names to select Daniel for my cute and trouble-making Irish journalist.
For the girls in The Clairvoyant’s Glasses , I took into account the era and the genre. I found some great ‘witch’ sites with witch names and their meanings. I selected Orli as the name for my ethereal, white-hair spiritual female. Orli means ‘my light’. Sophie and Lucy were popular names in the year that those characters were born—I estimated their age and looked online for the ten most popular female names that year.
So, where do you source your names from? Here’s some of my sources:
When choosing a name for my masculine stars in The Clairvoyant’s Glasses, I chose the name Lukas for my male witch because it was sexy, interesting and old-world. It didn’t lend itself to nicknames. For the street-smart police officer I picked the name Murdoch. I worked with a Murdoch once and the name says ‘reliable, strong, solid’ to me. Everything my Murdoch is. I looked up popular Irish names to select Daniel for my cute and trouble-making Irish journalist.
For the girls in The Clairvoyant’s Glasses , I took into account the era and the genre. I found some great ‘witch’ sites with witch names and their meanings. I selected Orli as the name for my ethereal, white-hair spiritual female. Orli means ‘my light’. Sophie and Lucy were popular names in the year that those characters were born—I estimated their age and looked online for the ten most popular female names that year.
So, where do you source your names from? Here’s some of my sources:
- Popular names lists for the year in question
Depending on the genre and when your book is set, there are plenty of lists online that can help. For example when I was writing the 1940s historical romance Autumn Manor, I Googled "most popular boy and girls names in the 1920s", because my characters were now about 20 years old. - The cemetery
Yes, I get that it sounds a bit morbid, but I’ve found lots of great names from cemetery headstones. Lovely names like Matilda but most importantly, plenty of surnames, because they can be harder to ‘create’ than first names. - The newspaper or online
Who hasn’t done it? Been searching quickly for a surname that you are probably only going to use once (e.g. like a witness giving a report in your story) and glanced at the local paper or stories online and grabbed a name. - Work
Have you ever glanced down that work phone list, or been searching for a quick name and ‘borrowed’ a first or last name from the office? Mm, me either :) - Friends and family
Both handy sources for first and last names … just make sure you mix them up and you don’t insult anyone.
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Author Q&A
What was the inspiration for The Clairvoyant’s Glasses?
"I went to a psychic and she asked to hold something that was important to me. I gave her my wristwatch which was a gift from Mum. Then I began thinking ‘what if psychic power could be transferred by an object?’ That got me thinking about psychic talent being handed down from generation to generation. I was also terrified by Alfred Hitchcock’s The Birds, when I was a kid. My sister and I were babysitting our two younger siblings and we were up late watching it one night. I love birds, but they’ve always freaked me out just a little. They play a significant role in The Clairvoyant’s Glasses."Did you do a lot of research of The Clairvoyant’s Glasses?
"I did actually. I wanted to be sure I was a little faithful to the genre and some of the psychic cases mentioned, like the Tichborne Affair, are based on true events. "One of your lead men, Lukas, had a bad childhood but he is the man he is today because of his grandfather. Did you research abandonment issues to flesh out his character?
"I have studied psychology and I am fascinated by how our world influences our personalities and actions. Lukas’s situation was sad; he was orphaned as a teenager, so you understand why he is frightened to love too much. But his cousin Orli and his grandfather work at teaching him trust."Did a psychic ever tell you anything that changed your life?
"Yes, sort of but I didn’t act on it. I was engaged at the time when I had a reading and she told me that the man I was marrying would not be my great love. Another was to come. What do you do with that?"What character out of all your books is the closest to your personality?
"In The Clairvoyant’s Glasses, neither Lucy nor Sophie is like me, but there’s a bit of me in both of their emotions. Lucy is a bit naive, especially for a model and she hasn’t always had successful relationships. Sophie is confident but is a bit lost… she isn’t getting where she wants to go quick enough for her liking. I think the NA audience will relate!"Who are the main male characters and why will we love them?
"There are three delicious men in The Clairvoyant’s Glasses. Lukas the protector is tall, sophisticated, handsome (of course) and a powerful witch. Murdoch the police officer is the opposite—dark of feature, brooding, well-built and sure of himself. I’ve also included a very cocky Irish Journalist, Daniel who is sporty, boyish and trouble. Personally, I’m torn between Lucas and Murdoch."Sophie, the lead character, has a core set of friends and many of your characters receive support from friends but have little family. Is that intentional?
"To some degree. Many people aren’t blessed with a good family or don’t have the network of family like our parents or grandparents did. So our friendships become family. Sophie is very much supported by the people around her, who stick by her even when she is ‘all about Sophie’."Are there any hidden messages or morals contained in this book?
"If there is, I think it is about the importance of having people and pets in our lives. Not just family, but friends and support networks. Also, to remember that nothing is black and white… lives are complex and sometimes we have to allow for a little grey!"
You talk about generational grudges and protection in your book. Is this based on the traditional battle between good and evil?"I guess it is in a way. In fantasy and fairytales there’s always been good and evil—the good witch, the bad witch, etc. But in The Clairvoyant’s Glasses, I think you can empathise with the baddies a little because the curse was earned. You can understand why the ‘curse’ was placed."If your book was to be made into a movie, who would you want to play the lead characters?
"I often have images of the characters in my head when I write them, so here’s my cast list:Do you plot your stories or just sit down and write?
Sophie: Jennifer Lawrence
Lucy: Emma Stone or Nina Dobrev
Orli: Dakota Fanning or Amanda Seyfried
Lukas: Robert Pattinson maybe … or Liam Hemsworth (a bit of Australian bias there)
Murdoch: Zac Efron or Taylor Lautner or Evan Ross
Daniel: Colton Haynes or Alex Pettyfer or Chace Crawford"
"I’ll have an idea of the bones of the story and then I let it roll out. A couple of times I have sat down and planned the book, the plot, timeline and characters, but then I have found it hard to write because it was prescriptive. So in most cases, as I did with The Clairvoyant’s Glasses, I let it flow . I have to tell you, sometimes my characters really surprise. Something I just don’t see things coming. :-)"Do you read your reviews?
"I love this question because I don’t think readers and reviewers realise the impact they can have on an author. I get reviews from NetGalley, Amazon and Goodreads and the positive reviews are really heartening. They give you a lift and make you feel like you are doing something right. I’ve had some gracious negative reviews too, and I understand not everyone is going to love your book, but the nasty ones do sting. You have to develop a bit of a thick skin, if possible."What's coming up next for you?
" So many stories, so little time.
It’s a year of firsts—The Clairvoyant’s Glasses is my first paranormal novel and I’ve just finished working on my first YA novel Ophelia, adrift. Both books are part of two-book series so I’ve got to get to work on book two!
I’m keen to get back to writing the next Mitchell Parker book—my vulnerable and sexy FBI agent. But I’m at proofing stage with a psychological thriller at the moment. Plus I’m half way through the second Ophelia book which is called Ophelia, aground."
About the Author
After studying English Literature and Communications at universities in Queensland, Australia, Helen Goltz has worked as a journalist and marketer in print, TV, radio and public relations. Helen is the author of seven books and is published by Clan Destine Press and Atlas Productions.
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Thanks Bookschatter team for a brilliant release day post! Hx
ReplyDeleteHi Helen! thank you for popping by! :-)
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