Showing posts with label The Memory Witch. Show all posts
Showing posts with label The Memory Witch. Show all posts
Friday, July 31, 2015
Weekend Book Sale: The Memory Witch: Volume One
Book news people! I am finally working on the sequel (and conclusion) to The Memory Witch. This is my only YA novel and features the dark and magical story of Quinn, an apprentice witch on a quest to have her lost memories restored. As I write the continuation of Quinn's journey, I am putting the first book on sale this weekend for just 99 Cents! Pick up your discounted copy on Amazon and Amazon UK through Sunday.
http://www.amazon.com/Memory-Witch-Heather-Topham-Wood-ebook/dp/B00XNKLLPM
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Memory-Witch-Heather-Topham-Wood-ebook/dp/B00XNKLLPM
Friday, May 15, 2015
Re-Release: The Memory Witch by Heather Topham Wood
My YA paranormal romance is back on Kindle! Newly revised and with a brand new cover. Now available for only $2.99 and free to Kindle Unlimited subscribers.
Excerpt:
My hands were shaking with anticipation. I set out a gold plated bowl in the middle of the three candles. The candles were bone white and were intended to attract those from the spirit world. I lit the candles and kneeled before the bowl. I removed a picture of my father from my pocket. I moistened the paper with manuka oil and concentrated on thoughts of my dad. I concocted fabricated memories in my head. My father lifting me into his arms. Pushing me on a swing. Reading me a story until I fell asleep.
I set the picture aflame with one of the spirit invoking candles. “Come forth Ronald Jacobs to me. I command thee.”
Nothing happened. The ashes scattered into the bowl. I called again. “Come forth Ronald Jacobs to me. I command thee.”
The wind picked up. The new fallen snow stirred at my feet. I watched my breath escape my mouth in billowing puffs. Still nothing. No sign of my father.
I clenched my fists together. I was angry. I had been so successful in the past. Each spell had come easy to me. Stella insisted this was proof I was meant to live out my life as a practicing witch.
I dug deep inside myself. I wanted to harness all of the magic that lived inside of my blood. I had avoided using magic for my own gain, but I was ready to make an exception. I needed a real memory of my father. I screamed into the wind, “Come forth Ronald Jacobs to me. I command thee.”
A gust of wind sent my hair flying in my face. Turning back, I cursed aloud since I was certain the breeze had blew out the candles. However, when I peered down, my altar was gone. I gasped and tried to make sense of what was going on. I shook my head in an attempt to clear my thoughts and establish whether I was dreaming or not. My movements stilled as I saw something in the corner of my peripheral vision. A figure was standing about ten feet away.
He looked like he had stepped out the photograph I had just burned. He hadn’t aged a day.
I had prepared myself for several scenarios. I expected an apparition. I would be able to see through him and not be able to touch him. As fear took hold of my heart, another vision came into my head. My dad had been shot in the head. What if he appeared as a horrific zombie complete with blood and gore?
Hesitantly, I took a step towards him. His eyes were what struck me at first. They weren’t the laughing and kind eyes of my mother’s collection of pictures and videos. They were the eyes of a sad and tormented soul.
“Dad?” I asked.
His eyes filled with recognition. “Quinny?” My heart soared when I heard his voice. My father had a nickname for me. He was here and he was saying my name.
Pick up your copy here:
Amazon US:
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00XNKLLPM
Amazon UK:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00XNKLLPM
Excerpt:
My hands were shaking with anticipation. I set out a gold plated bowl in the middle of the three candles. The candles were bone white and were intended to attract those from the spirit world. I lit the candles and kneeled before the bowl. I removed a picture of my father from my pocket. I moistened the paper with manuka oil and concentrated on thoughts of my dad. I concocted fabricated memories in my head. My father lifting me into his arms. Pushing me on a swing. Reading me a story until I fell asleep.
I set the picture aflame with one of the spirit invoking candles. “Come forth Ronald Jacobs to me. I command thee.”
Nothing happened. The ashes scattered into the bowl. I called again. “Come forth Ronald Jacobs to me. I command thee.”
The wind picked up. The new fallen snow stirred at my feet. I watched my breath escape my mouth in billowing puffs. Still nothing. No sign of my father.
I clenched my fists together. I was angry. I had been so successful in the past. Each spell had come easy to me. Stella insisted this was proof I was meant to live out my life as a practicing witch.
I dug deep inside myself. I wanted to harness all of the magic that lived inside of my blood. I had avoided using magic for my own gain, but I was ready to make an exception. I needed a real memory of my father. I screamed into the wind, “Come forth Ronald Jacobs to me. I command thee.”
A gust of wind sent my hair flying in my face. Turning back, I cursed aloud since I was certain the breeze had blew out the candles. However, when I peered down, my altar was gone. I gasped and tried to make sense of what was going on. I shook my head in an attempt to clear my thoughts and establish whether I was dreaming or not. My movements stilled as I saw something in the corner of my peripheral vision. A figure was standing about ten feet away.
He looked like he had stepped out the photograph I had just burned. He hadn’t aged a day.
I had prepared myself for several scenarios. I expected an apparition. I would be able to see through him and not be able to touch him. As fear took hold of my heart, another vision came into my head. My dad had been shot in the head. What if he appeared as a horrific zombie complete with blood and gore?
Hesitantly, I took a step towards him. His eyes were what struck me at first. They weren’t the laughing and kind eyes of my mother’s collection of pictures and videos. They were the eyes of a sad and tormented soul.
“Dad?” I asked.
His eyes filled with recognition. “Quinny?” My heart soared when I heard his voice. My father had a nickname for me. He was here and he was saying my name.
Pick up your copy here:
Amazon US:
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00XNKLLPM
Amazon UK:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00XNKLLPM
Friday, November 28, 2014
Crescent Moon Press Black Friday Sale and Huge Giveaway Event
There is a Huge Black Friday .99 Kindle SALE! Check out some of these great authors below and don't forget to enter the rafflecopter for your chance to win lots of fun stuff including gift cards, eBooks and book swag!
The sale runs from Black Friday to New Years, so lots of time to buy LOTS AND LOTS OF FABULOUS BOOKS published by Crescent Moon Press!
Caden’s Fate, by Kate McKeever
Fairyproof, by Constance Phillips
Resurrecting Harry, by Constance Phillips
Speak of the Devil, by Shawna Romkey
The Devil Made Me Do It, by Shawna Romkey
What Gifts She Carried, by Lindsey Loucks
The Grave Winner, by Lindsey Loucks
Violet Midnight, by Lynn Rush
Violet Dawn, by Lynn Rush
Violet Storm, by Lynn Rush
Wasteland, by Lynn Rush
Awaited, by Lynn Rush
Tainted, by Lynn Rush
Prelude to Darkness, by Lynn Rush
Son of a Mermaid, by Katie O’Sullivan
Blood of a Mermaid, by Katie O’Sullivan
Wanted: One Ghost, by Loni Lynne
Ruined, by Kinley Baker
Denied, by Kinley Baker
Endured, by Kinley Baker
Gemini Rising, by Louann Carroll
A Shadow of Time, by Louann Carroll
Dakota Capitve, by Alythia Brown
Sorrow’s Point, by Danielle DeVor
Sorrow’s Edge, by Danielle DeVor
Red, by Reese Reed
The Memory Witch, by Heather Topham Wood
Not Your Average Fairy Tale, by Chantele Sedgwick
Not Your Average Happy Ending, Chantele Sedgwick
A Stiff Kiss, by Avery Olive
Won’t Let Go, by Avery Olive
Idyllic Avenue, by Chad Ganske
Rift Healer, by Diane M Haynes
Still Hunt, by Diane M Haynes
First Contact, by Kat Green
Citizens of Logan Pond: Life, by Rebecca Belliston
Irons in the Fire, by Penelope Marzec
The Company You Keep, by Penelope Marzec
Kiss of Blarney, by Penelope Marzec
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Tuesday, January 28, 2014
Teaser Tuesday and Updates on Works in Progress
Happy Tuesday All! I wanted to give an update on my latest
writing projects. Here’s my progress and plans for the following works in
progress:
The Memory Witch Sequel: I’ve written the first three
chapters and I plan to resume work on it early spring. I was trying to write it
at the same time as my current work in progress and I’ve decided the process
wasn’t working for me. I need to write one book at a time to stay in the
mindset of the characters. I have scheduled a blog tour for early March for The
Memory Witch and will be posting updates on the stops. There will be reviews,
interviews and a gift card giveaway.
Declan’s Untitled Spinoff (Second Sight): SPOILERS AHEAD IF
YOU HAVE NOT READ THE FINAL OMEN. I can’t leave Declan hanging and it was one
of the reasons I decided to do a spinoff book with him as the main character.
Kate is going to be a big part of his book as well since one of the plot points
is the launching of their psychic investigation firm. Declan will get another chance
at romance when they take on a new client searching for her brother. I also
wrote a couple of chapters but will get back to the story hopefully early
summer.
Falling for Autumn: This is my current work in progress and
I’m really enjoying writing a standalone that falls within the New Adult genre.
There’s definitely more angst in this one than my Second Sight series, but the
characters have really come to life in my head. Autumn and Blake have their
share of secrets and despite the strong feelings developing between them, a romantic
relationship seems impossible. I included an unedited excerpt below =)
Falling for Autumn Excerpt:
The
backyard of the football house was relatively quiet. Only people like me, those
desperate for isolation, would venture out in the chilly weather. There were a
half dozen students towards the back of the yard, gathered in a semi-circle,
most likely sharing a joint while my presence remained unnoticed. I blew out my
breath in front of me, mesmerized by the crystallization in the air.
The
backdoor opened and slammed shut loudly behind me. Startled, I spun around. My
beer sloshed over the side of my cup and wet the shoes of the guy standing
before me. The motion lights had come on and I was faced with a now familiar
pair of green eyes.
I
shrank back and clutched my chest. “Damn! You scared me!” Actually, I’d been primed to kick
him in the nuts. I didn’t take well to being startled, especially by hulking
men.
“I
could see that. I have a pair of drenched feet to prove your point,” he
quipped. I almost rolled my eyes when I heard him speak. Of course, his voice
would be as sexy as the rest of him. His tone was husky and there was an underlying
sensuality in the way his mouth moved as he talked. He pronounced each syllable
slowly, giving me plenty of time to watch his full lips move seductively.
I
pushed down any lusty stirrings I felt and allowed my annoyance to take its
place. “Maybe that will serve as a reminder to not creep up on someone.”
“I’ll
keep that in mind,” he said softly.
I
expected him to leave, but he stood in place next to me. I cast him a sidelong
glance and attempted to check him out further undetected. He was much taller
than my five foot six inches and probably weighed twice as me. He wasn’t husky;
instead he was broad and muscular. He wore a black t-shirt and his tan biceps
were hard to not drool over. The t-shirt was fitted and I could make out the
rigid planes of his chest and abs. It was the off-season and I couldn’t imagine
how he could get any more cut during the regular football season.
Something
about Blake was making me anxious and I gave in to my urge to flee. Without
another word, I turned to go. His voice stopped me. “Why are you here?”
It
was such an odd question. I laughed nervously. “What do you mean? In the
physical or metaphysical sense? Like why am I at this party or why was I ever
born?”
He
chuckled, but when I caught his eye, I didn’t see humor there. “Why are you at
this party? I’ve never seen you at the house before.” He spoke like it was an
accusation.
What was he the party police? His
questions were rankling me. It was borderline offensive and I couldn’t get a
read on his motives. It didn’t feel like he was hitting on me. Instead, he
genuinely wanted me to justify what brought me to this party and into his
presence.
“I’m
going. Nice meeting you, I guess,” I said sarcastically and took another step
toward the door. “I know you didn’t bother asking me my name, but it’s Autumn
by the way.”
His
fingers slipped around my wrist to stop me from going. I expected to hate the
sensation, to despise the feel of a man’s hand on my skin. I inwardly cringed
because I enjoyed it. His palm was soft and warm and he didn’t try to roughly
hold me. Instead, it was a gentle caress that I missed once his hand pulled
away. “Sorry…I’m being an ass. I’m Blake.”
Monday, December 16, 2013
New Release and Giveaway: The Memory Witch
Today I'm celebrating my new YA release from Crescent Moon Press. It's called The Memory Witch and it's the first book in a planned trilogy. It's full of magic, romance and angst. I have the Amazon Buy Links and will be sharing the other purchase links as they go live. Enter below for chance to win an autographed paperback copy or eBook version.
Book Summary:
Ten years ago, Quinn Jacobs’ mother made a bargain with a local witch—steal away Quinn’s memories from the first eight years of her life and in return, Quinn would spend a year in servitude to the witch.
On Quinn’s eighteenth birthday, she’s forced to leave her home and friends behind. For the next year, she’ll live at the Chadwick House, learning everything she needs to know about being a spellcaster. As her powers grow, Quinn begins to unravel the secrets of the past and the reason her mother was so desperate to conceal the horrifying truth.
Kindle Version: http://www.amazon.com/Memory-Witch-Heather-Topham-Wood-ebook/dp/B00HB67IWY
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18248374-the-memory-witch
Book Summary:
Ten years ago, Quinn Jacobs’ mother made a bargain with a local witch—steal away Quinn’s memories from the first eight years of her life and in return, Quinn would spend a year in servitude to the witch.
On Quinn’s eighteenth birthday, she’s forced to leave her home and friends behind. For the next year, she’ll live at the Chadwick House, learning everything she needs to know about being a spellcaster. As her powers grow, Quinn begins to unravel the secrets of the past and the reason her mother was so desperate to conceal the horrifying truth.
Kindle Version: http://www.amazon.com/Memory-Witch-Heather-Topham-Wood-ebook/dp/B00HB67IWY
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18248374-the-memory-witch
Excerpt:
a Rafflecopter giveaway
After about an hour of swimming, I climbed back
onto the pier. Throwing on my tunic, I laid back onto my
towel. Drowsiness set in as I sunbathed and before long,
I felt myself drifting...
I was in the woods again. This time I wasn’t running. Instead I sat sobbing as I held a piece of torn cloth in my hands. I had no idea the significance of the scarlet fabric, but it filled me with sorrow looking at it. The fabric was roughly torn and the glossy surface made me guess it had come from a jacket.
Dark shadows were creeping towards me as I sat crying with my back against a white birch tree. I gripped the fabric in my fist as I became aware of the presence of the darkness. I stopped my tears and looked at the swirling forms moving steadfastly in my direction. Wiping off the residual moisture on my cheeks, I stood and stared down the ghastly shapes.
I threw the fabric on the moist ground. An army of spiders, beetles, and worms emerged from the ground and began to devour the material. Once it disappeared into their greedy little mouths, they returned to ground. I was heartbroken with their hungry destruction of something that was so precious to me, but I had to find the strength to confront and embrace the darkness.
“I welcome you.” The voice wasn’t my own. It was full of malice and power. My hands shot out before me and the dark mist came to them. They disappeared inside of my fingers and I could see the energy pulse through my body. I shut my eyes and reopened them. They were no longer my own. Blackened irises with a red rim now stood in place of my soft brown eyes...
I was in the woods again. This time I wasn’t running. Instead I sat sobbing as I held a piece of torn cloth in my hands. I had no idea the significance of the scarlet fabric, but it filled me with sorrow looking at it. The fabric was roughly torn and the glossy surface made me guess it had come from a jacket.
Dark shadows were creeping towards me as I sat crying with my back against a white birch tree. I gripped the fabric in my fist as I became aware of the presence of the darkness. I stopped my tears and looked at the swirling forms moving steadfastly in my direction. Wiping off the residual moisture on my cheeks, I stood and stared down the ghastly shapes.
I threw the fabric on the moist ground. An army of spiders, beetles, and worms emerged from the ground and began to devour the material. Once it disappeared into their greedy little mouths, they returned to ground. I was heartbroken with their hungry destruction of something that was so precious to me, but I had to find the strength to confront and embrace the darkness.
“I welcome you.” The voice wasn’t my own. It was full of malice and power. My hands shot out before me and the dark mist came to them. They disappeared inside of my fingers and I could see the energy pulse through my body. I shut my eyes and reopened them. They were no longer my own. Blackened irises with a red rim now stood in place of my soft brown eyes...
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Monday, December 2, 2013
Cover Reveal: The Memory Witch by Heather Topham Wood
Ten years ago, Quinn Jacobs’ mother made a bargain with a local witch—steal away Quinn’s memories from the first eight years of her life and in return, Quinn would spend a year in servitude to the witch.
On Quinn’s eighteenth birthday, she’s forced to leave her home and friends behind. For the next year, she’ll live at the Chadwick House, learning everything she needs to know about being a spellcaster. As her powers grow, Quinn begins to unravel the secrets of the past and the reason her mother was so desperate to conceal the horrifying truth.
Publication Date: December 15, 2013
Add to Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18248374-memory-witch
Excerpt:
I didn’t have a
single remembrance before the age of eight. The first day of kindergarten,
losing my first tooth, my first best friend—these memories vanished into an
unexplained chasm and were still missing ten years later.
My mother would
never explain the root of this anomaly to me. The only thing she’d say is that
losing my father that year did something irreversible to my brain. A crater
opened up inside of me and every early memory fell into oblivion.
I had eight years
with my father before he died—but I didn’t have one memory of him. I didn’t
know what it felt like to be inside of his embrace. I had no recollection of
the scent I breathed in when he gathered me up into his arms. I had to imagine
the memories through a haphazard collage of photographs and videos left behind.
My father was
murdered in a fumbled burglary attempt at our home. My mother told me I should
be grateful we weren’t home that night because we would be six feet under right
alongside him. The ice in her voice made me wonder if she blamed him in some
way for being killed.
Mere weeks after
we laid him to rest, we moved two hours away from our New Jersey hometown to
Harveys Lake, Pennsylvania. A visit to his final resting place was a rare
occurrence and we were estranged from my father’s side of the family. The part
that I always had a hard time wrapping my head around was that my father’s
unsolved murder never plagued my mother. She never sought out the killer to
exact justice for taking a father away from his young daughter.
She insisted we
needed a fresh start. And for ten years, I lived a seemingly normal teenage
existence with the exception of my unique case of amnesia. My mother never
brought me to a team of doctors to analyze my brain and she has never pushed me
to remember. I comprehended the oddities surrounding my life, but we’d lived
this way for so long that it became normal.
Until the day that
everything changed.
Tuesday, January 15, 2013
HUGE Announcement and Teaser Tuesday for Second Sight Book Three
As promised, I'll be posting another teaser for Second Sight Book Three. But, first I have VERY exciting news to share. I've accepted an offer through Crescent Moon Press to publish my NaNoWriMo book The Memory Witch! I am beyond excited to be working with them, they have an amazing group of writers and staff. I've had a great experience self-publishing my Second Sight series, but I'm ready to focus more time on writing instead of the editing, cover art and formatting that goes into a book when you do everything on your own. Here's the link to my page on the publisher's site and I'll be posting more information as I go through the process: http://crescentmoonpress.com/books/MemoryWitch.html
Here's an unedited version of another scene from the third Second Sight book. In this scene, Declan and Kate are discussing possible suspects over who wants to kill her.
“Maybe it’s someone from one of the cases
you’ve worked. You foiled their plans and now they’re out for blood.”
Kate was chilled by the sentiment.
“They’re in jail now. But I guess it’s possible for them to hire someone…”
“If not them, maybe it’s someone you know.” Declan paused, as he seemed to mull over potential murder suspects. “Hey, how mad
was Jared after you told him you kissed me? Maybe he’s the one who wants to off
you.”
She became a little annoyed that Declan
could be so flippant about her murder. “With that same sentiment, it could be you that wants me dead. Your thinking
may be that if you can’t have me, nobody can.”
He laughed a little too hard for her
liking. “Kate, it was a great kiss, but it was barely a blip on my radar. I’m
way too good-looking to be pining over some girl.”
“Well, if it isn’t you and I’m one
hundred percent certain Jared would never hurt me, who else?”
“You know what we need…a detective. Do we
know anyone like that?” he asked sarcastically. “Oh right, you were dating one.
It wouldn’t make any sense at all to
ask him to help figure out who wants you dead.”
Tuesday, December 18, 2012
Looking Back at NaNoWriMo
Yay! I won! My first NaNoWriMo was a complete success and I'm happy to report that my first novel in a new series is now undergoing edits. The book is called The Memory Witch and here's the synopsis:
Ten years ago, Quinn Jacobs’ mother made a bargain with a local witch—steal away Quinn’s memories from the first eight years of her life and in return, Quinn would spend a year in servitude to the witch.
On Quinn’s eighteenth birthday, she’s forced to leave her home and friends behind. For the next year, she’ll live at the Chadwick House, learning everything she needs to know about being a spellcaster. As her powers emerge, Quinn begins to unravel the secrets of the past and the reason her mother was so desperate to conceal the horrifying truth.
That's the rough draft of my synopsis. I'll be editing the book now while also working continuously on the third book in the Second Sight series. It's been interesting to write the books simultaneously for several reasons. For one, The Memory Witch is the first novel I've written in first person. Also, Quinn's voice is very different than Kate Edwards.
Thanks to everyone for their support during the NaNoWriMo craziness.
Ten years ago, Quinn Jacobs’ mother made a bargain with a local witch—steal away Quinn’s memories from the first eight years of her life and in return, Quinn would spend a year in servitude to the witch.
On Quinn’s eighteenth birthday, she’s forced to leave her home and friends behind. For the next year, she’ll live at the Chadwick House, learning everything she needs to know about being a spellcaster. As her powers emerge, Quinn begins to unravel the secrets of the past and the reason her mother was so desperate to conceal the horrifying truth.
That's the rough draft of my synopsis. I'll be editing the book now while also working continuously on the third book in the Second Sight series. It's been interesting to write the books simultaneously for several reasons. For one, The Memory Witch is the first novel I've written in first person. Also, Quinn's voice is very different than Kate Edwards.
Thanks to everyone for their support during the NaNoWriMo craziness.
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