Apr 25, 2013

Interview & Giveaway: Shadows of the Past by Carmen Stefanescu

The Book
Publish date: 4th December 2012
Publisher: Wild Child Publishing
Genre: paranormal/light romance/light horror.

 Anne's relationship with her boyfriend Neil has disintegrated. After a two-year separation, they pack for a week vacation in hopes of reconciling. But fate has other plans for them.

The discovery of a bejeweled cross and ancient human bones opens a door to a new and frightening world--one where the ghost of a medieval nun named Genevieve will not let Anne rest. This new world threatens not only to ruin Anne and Neil's vacation but to end all hopes of reconciliation as Anne feels compelled to help free Genevieve's soul from its torment.

Can Anne save her relationship and help Genevieve find her eternal rest?

The twists and turns in this paranormal tale keep the reader guessing up to the end and weave themselves together into a quest to rekindle love.

The Interview
1. Describe your book in three words. 
Suspense, passion, karmic retribution. 

2. What inspired you to write Shadows of the Past? 
It was an article about a haunted mountain in England. The souls of two sinners, a nun and a priest who break their vows and elope, can’t find their rest. The tourists visiting the haunted area sometimes hear agonizing moans during the night. That was all. The moment I put down the newspaper I experienced a strong urge to write about them. This is how The Ballad of the Priest and the Nun came to life, first. Later, I thought it was not enough. I considered that Genevieve’s story must be told in detail. And thus Shadows of the Past came to life.

3. Where do you usually write?

During summer holidays I retreat to my “writing room” and loose myself in the imaginary realm of my characters and plots. Being a teacher, I have this period free, so after taking care of our four-legged friends - several cats and a dog, I re-read what I wrote the previous day, make changes or edits and then continue my story. I tried to set a daily writing goal but, to tell you the truth, I realized I write better without one. I don't like patterns and being forced to follow a pre-defined one. You can get a glimpse of my "writing-room" in the photo.

4. What is the one thing you always have by your side while writing? 
A large cup with black, strong coffee. And I like to have everything handy: paper, pencils, markers, ballpoint pens as I write longhand first.

5. Which are you top 3 favorite series/books of all time? 
I love series books. I feel like the characters become friends to me. The only thing that makes me sad is when a series I enjoy comes to the end. 

Here are three of my favorite series.
  1. My favorite literary stories of all time are Agatha Christie's novels having the unflappable and much beloved female detective, Miss Jane Marple. There are twelve novels having her as main lead investigator. I loved each and every one of these books. 
  2. Then I should mention A. Dumas's The D'Artagnan Romances including The Three Musketeers, Twenty Years After, Vicomte de Bragelonne, Ten Years Later, Louise de La Valliere and The Man in the Iron Mask. Everything in them - pacing, plot and character development is excellent. 
  3. And the third is Robert Ludlum's trilogy: The Bourne Identity, The Bourne Supremacy and The Bourne Ultimatum. One of the best espionage/thriller books written by Ludlum. The books are well plotted and with complex characters. 
6. Your favorite movies or TV shows? 
Movies - Ghost with Patrick Swayze is one of my favorite films. It is romantic and touching. It shows the love that transcends even death. I believe in ghosts, reincarnation, karmic retribution, past lives. Another favorite is Philadelphia Experiment- a dream for conspiracy theorists, based on an "actual event" that took place in 1943. I also enjoy comedies with Louis de Funes. 

TV shows I greatly enjoy - Downton Abbey - absolutely one of the most rewarding and richly satisfying shows from Great Britain that have come along in recent years; The Event - tackling a theme so dear to me - extraterrestrial life; 24 in which Jack Bauer, Director of Counter-Terrorist Unit of Los Angeles, races against the clock to subvert terrorist plots and save his nation from ultimate disaster. Squadra Antimafia - the title speaks for itself.

7. What should we expect from you in the future? 
Dracula's Mistress -linked to Vlad the Impaler’s life. Another paranormal. A historical one. The Middle Ages again, this time the setting is Walachia, present-day Romania. My submission was accepted by the publisher I'd sent it to, and I already signed the contract. Dracula's Mistress goes “against the grain”; it is the first novel to present the prince as a real human being - with his good parts and his faults - not as the infamous vampire. However it's not bare history, the story is packed with mystery, love, twists and turns and... You'll see it soon. 

Thank you, Veronica, for having hosted me today. It was a pleasure.

The Author
Find Carmen on:

Trailer for Shadows of the Past:

Buy Links:

The Giveaway
Two of you will win a pdf copy of Shadows of the Past
Open Internationally
a Rafflecopter giveaway
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9 comments:

  1. Unknown4/25/2013

    Nice interview. Mind if I steal the questions? :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Unknown4/25/2013

      No, go ahead and steal them. :)

      Delete
  2. wiccawitch44/25/2013

    great interview I love this book! it holds a special place in my heart I have read it like 100 times..lol..Carmen is a most talented writer and an amazing person.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Lauren4/25/2013

    The interview went well I see. Good job!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Unknown4/25/2013

    It amazes me how writers can be reading artical, history, ect and creat great stories from just a small amout of informaiton. What a great gift to have.

    ReplyDelete
  5. carmens0074/25/2013

    Thank you, everyone, for the comments! As about what Elsa notices, yes, it's a great gift, to have this sparkle started from the most common, ordinary things.

    ReplyDelete
  6. robgirlbooks4/26/2013

    I cannot believe she starts out writing longhand. When I decided to start writing it took me about twenty minutes to realize my days using pen and paper were gone. I'm relieved to find another author who does not thrive on setting daily writing goals. Great post and interview!

    ReplyDelete
  7. carmens0074/26/2013

    Please, Robyn, do believe! I have the manuscript in handwritten form like, I imagine, authors did in the times when there was no PC and just a pen or a feather! Moreover, what you take for granted in your parts of the world, for me was valid many, many years later. I had my first PC in 2002 and the internet in 2004.And the first draft of Shadows, which at that time had another title, was ready in summer 2002
    So writing the old, traditional way is nothing unusual for me. Every manuscript I have, poems and prose, is pen on paper and only then typed on the PC!
    Please, come visit to see for yourself.
    Best,
    Carmen

    ReplyDelete
  8. Anonymous4/30/2013

    Thank you for featuring Carmen. I loved this book. She's a great writer and storyteller. Paulette

    ReplyDelete

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