Back from their adventures in Souls Entwined, Sam Daggett begins a new relationship with Gretta Dobbs, whose memories of their time traveling experience have been erased. Determined to never leave her again, Sam vows to help Gretta, despite the bad luck curse on her heirloom ring. Within hours of their return, tragedy strikes.
As Sam becomes the third victim of the bad luck curse, Gretta’s memories of her time spent in the past begin to return. Unable to remember more than snippets, she realizes that anyone close to her is in grave danger. In order to keep Sam and her family safe, she flees in the middle of the night.
Finding the perfect summer job in the back hills of Virginia, Gretta unknowingly crosses paths with a serial killer. With guidance from their ancestral spirits, Roxana and Katarina, Sam desperately attempts to find Gretta before the curse strikes again.
As Sam becomes the third victim of the bad luck curse, Gretta’s memories of her time spent in the past begin to return. Unable to remember more than snippets, she realizes that anyone close to her is in grave danger. In order to keep Sam and her family safe, she flees in the middle of the night.
Finding the perfect summer job in the back hills of Virginia, Gretta unknowingly crosses paths with a serial killer. With guidance from their ancestral spirits, Roxana and Katarina, Sam desperately attempts to find Gretta before the curse strikes again.
It's been a CRAZY summer! July 29th had been my tentative release date for Souls Estranged. Life happens and I'm happy to announce Souls Estranged will be released on e-book by Amazon.com on Sept 30th. I'm so excited to have two additional months to apply final touches and prepare for the big day.
Writing a sequel is tough. The first book, Souls Entwined, can be read as a stand alone novel. I also wrote Souls Estranged as a stand alone---even though my hero and heroine remain the same. For those who become attached to Sam and Gretta, all three books contain connecting elements and come to a conclusion in the third book.
I'm currently writing the final book in The Souls Trilogy, Souls Endure. I admit, it is very difficult writing this one. I've had the ending in my head for at least a year and what happens to my characters has not changed. What changes is how they get to the ending. As planned, all of the curses and premonitions will be revealed. In wrapping things up, I've found different and exciting options that continually swim around in my head.
Speaking of swimming...my husband and I sat at my second daughter's Senior State Swim meet last month and I plotted yet another twist to the ending. It just dawned on me that I wrote the notes to the final chapters in a composition notebook at a swim meet. That is exactly how I wrote out the ideas for the first book...at a swim meet on paper. I didn't plan it. It just happened. Kind of gives me goosebumps:)
I'm tentatively looking at a summer 2016 release for Souls Endure.
Here's a sneak preview of Souls Estranged...
Writing a sequel is tough. The first book, Souls Entwined, can be read as a stand alone novel. I also wrote Souls Estranged as a stand alone---even though my hero and heroine remain the same. For those who become attached to Sam and Gretta, all three books contain connecting elements and come to a conclusion in the third book.
I'm currently writing the final book in The Souls Trilogy, Souls Endure. I admit, it is very difficult writing this one. I've had the ending in my head for at least a year and what happens to my characters has not changed. What changes is how they get to the ending. As planned, all of the curses and premonitions will be revealed. In wrapping things up, I've found different and exciting options that continually swim around in my head.
Speaking of swimming...my husband and I sat at my second daughter's Senior State Swim meet last month and I plotted yet another twist to the ending. It just dawned on me that I wrote the notes to the final chapters in a composition notebook at a swim meet. That is exactly how I wrote out the ideas for the first book...at a swim meet on paper. I didn't plan it. It just happened. Kind of gives me goosebumps:)
I'm tentatively looking at a summer 2016 release for Souls Endure.
Here's a sneak preview of Souls Estranged...
Prologue: Sunday
In the dim morning light of the hospital room, Sam Daggett watched the little cat stretch its front paws before zeroing intense green eyes on him.
“Roxana?” He scrutinized the feline for the slightest twitch of recognition.
Nothing.
Doubting Roxana’s spirit remained entwined within the gray and white cat, he moved his focus to Gretta Dobbs. She slept peacefully with her hand nestled in his. Neither of their families had returned to the hospital. Her garnet ring caught his attention and immediately a sense of foreboding crept up his spine.
His heart sped as images of his time traveling, out-of-body adventure with Gretta flashed through his mind. Roxana, Gretta’s long-dead ancestor, enabled their souls to entwine within nineteenth century lovers in order to gather information on the cursed ring. Pride, determination, and fear filled him.
“I’m so sorry we didn’t find all of the answers we needed,” Sam whispered as he lifted her hand to his lips. He watched her eyes and listened for the beep of the heart monitor to quicken. Satisfied she remained in dreamland, he continued. “You have no idea what we’ve been through.”
He shuddered at the memories. His gaze fell back to the ring. Frustration filled him. The urge to rip it off her hand coursed through him, but he remembered she remained cursed with or without the ring.
Control. I must control my emotions.
He refocused his thoughts on the present and relished in the gratitude of simply being in the same room with her.
A soft sigh escaped her lips and she squeezed his hand before slipping into a deeper slumber.
“With you, nothing is impossible.” Careful not to bump his broken collarbone, Sam leaned closer and continued inches from her ear. “Brave and beautiful. Ready and willing to face pirates, spirits, and the horrors of the purgatories to end the family curse.” His heart hammered in his chest as memories of seeking treasure, falling in love, and losing it all flashed within his mind.
“I love you, Gretta and I’ll do everything in my power to earn your love.”
Tracing his fingers over the back of her hand, he touched the face of the ring’s oval red stone. He remembered every moment of their time together while Gretta’s memories had been erased. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t prevent his thoughts from wandering. Concern prickled his skin as he remembered their quest to understand the ring’s curses.
The most dangerous one, a curse of bad luck, remained a mystery.
He inhaled and pushed his failures away. “Katarina told me to keep my distance from you because of potential tragedy. Nothing will keep me away. I vow to protect and love you forever.”
Sam felt Gretta’s grip on his hand tighten. With her hand remaining in his, he brushed a stray lock of hair off her cheek. She let go of his hand and nuzzled into his palm with a tiny sigh. He closed his eyes, content to be back in his own body and time with her.
Yet, uneasiness seeped deep within and the dreadful feeling of impending tragedy grew stronger with every passing minute.
I hope you enjoyed the excerpt of Book Two---Souls Estranged. I'm headed back to my spot to write Chapter 35 of Souls Endure.
---Anne
In the dim morning light of the hospital room, Sam Daggett watched the little cat stretch its front paws before zeroing intense green eyes on him.
“Roxana?” He scrutinized the feline for the slightest twitch of recognition.
Nothing.
Doubting Roxana’s spirit remained entwined within the gray and white cat, he moved his focus to Gretta Dobbs. She slept peacefully with her hand nestled in his. Neither of their families had returned to the hospital. Her garnet ring caught his attention and immediately a sense of foreboding crept up his spine.
His heart sped as images of his time traveling, out-of-body adventure with Gretta flashed through his mind. Roxana, Gretta’s long-dead ancestor, enabled their souls to entwine within nineteenth century lovers in order to gather information on the cursed ring. Pride, determination, and fear filled him.
“I’m so sorry we didn’t find all of the answers we needed,” Sam whispered as he lifted her hand to his lips. He watched her eyes and listened for the beep of the heart monitor to quicken. Satisfied she remained in dreamland, he continued. “You have no idea what we’ve been through.”
He shuddered at the memories. His gaze fell back to the ring. Frustration filled him. The urge to rip it off her hand coursed through him, but he remembered she remained cursed with or without the ring.
Control. I must control my emotions.
He refocused his thoughts on the present and relished in the gratitude of simply being in the same room with her.
A soft sigh escaped her lips and she squeezed his hand before slipping into a deeper slumber.
“With you, nothing is impossible.” Careful not to bump his broken collarbone, Sam leaned closer and continued inches from her ear. “Brave and beautiful. Ready and willing to face pirates, spirits, and the horrors of the purgatories to end the family curse.” His heart hammered in his chest as memories of seeking treasure, falling in love, and losing it all flashed within his mind.
“I love you, Gretta and I’ll do everything in my power to earn your love.”
Tracing his fingers over the back of her hand, he touched the face of the ring’s oval red stone. He remembered every moment of their time together while Gretta’s memories had been erased. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t prevent his thoughts from wandering. Concern prickled his skin as he remembered their quest to understand the ring’s curses.
The most dangerous one, a curse of bad luck, remained a mystery.
He inhaled and pushed his failures away. “Katarina told me to keep my distance from you because of potential tragedy. Nothing will keep me away. I vow to protect and love you forever.”
Sam felt Gretta’s grip on his hand tighten. With her hand remaining in his, he brushed a stray lock of hair off her cheek. She let go of his hand and nuzzled into his palm with a tiny sigh. He closed his eyes, content to be back in his own body and time with her.
Yet, uneasiness seeped deep within and the dreadful feeling of impending tragedy grew stronger with every passing minute.
I hope you enjoyed the excerpt of Book Two---Souls Estranged. I'm headed back to my spot to write Chapter 35 of Souls Endure.
---Anne
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