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AUTHOR SPOTLIGHT - Wendy Steele - Contributing Author (Ghostly Writes Anthology 2018)

10/13/2018

Wendy Steele is author, wise woman, goddess. She is writer, dance teacher, mother and healer.

Her passion is magic.

‘The Lilith Trilogy’ leads the reader along the paths of the witches Qabalah, following Angel Parson’s story of betrayal, retribution and redemption. Her magical story contains high magic as well as pagan ritual.
‘The Standing Stone Book Series’ focuses on the lives of three women linked together across time and space by the standing stone. The countryside is the focus of their magic, embracing the gods and goddesses, tree spirits, elves and fairies.

Her latest series, The Wendy Woo Witch Lit Series, begins with The Naked Witch. Lizzie Martin, receptionist, single mother and witch, is asked by her new boss to conform and embrace the corporate dress code. The reality of paisley to pin stripe, an unexpected stay in hospital, monitoring of her fourteen year old daughter’s latest crush, the search for the truth about her father’s death and two new men in her life, give Lizzie plenty of plates to spin. In the Orphan Witch, Lizzie is grieving while trying to find her real mother and the truth about her father and in the third book, The Flowerpot Witch, Lizzie embarks on a new career, thwarted at every step by those around her.

You can hear Wendy telling her short stories in Pan’s Grotto on her Welsh riverbank, on her YouTube channel, The Phoenix and the Dragon.

Wendy’s non-fiction title ‘Wendy Woo’s Year:
A Pocketful of Smiles’ offers the reader 101 ideas to bring a smile to every day.

Wendy lives in Wales with her partner, Mike, and cats. If she’s not writing or teaching dance, you’ll find her renovating her house, clearing her land or sitting on her riverbank, breathing in the beauty of nature.

BOOKS BY WENDY STEELE

Download the Lizzie Martin Witchlit series: The Naked Witch, the first book, for FREE from 9th-14th October
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Naked-Witch-Wendy-Novel-Book-ebook/dp/B06W5D6GVV/ref
https://www.amazon.com/Naked-Witch-Wendy-Novel-Book-ebook/dp/B06W5D6GVV/ref

Look for Wendy's story in Ghostly Writes Anthology 2018
Release Date: October 31, 2018

Harriet misses her mother. Madame Connix is not the governess she was hoping for.
With April's help, Harriet continues her mother's scientific work, but what she really needs is in The Basement...

Author Links

Website: www.wendysteele.com

Twitter: https://twitter.com/WendyWooauthor

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/destinyofangelsnovel/?fref=ts

https://www.facebook.com/WendyWooBooks

https://www.facebook.com/TheStandingStone

Amazon author: http://www.amazon.com/Wendy-Steele/e/B007VZ1P06/ref

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Wendy-Steele/e/B007VZ1P06/ref

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wendy-steele-91257660/

Goodreads author: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6548666.Wendy_Steele

All Author: https://allauthor.com/profile/wendywoo/

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The Thinning Veil

10/8/2018

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I'm excited to announce my short story, The Thinning Veil, will be included in Ghostly Writes Anthology 2018 among several short stories by a variety of awesome authors. The book will be released on October 31, 2018. Here's a teaser for The Thinning Veil:

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AUTHOR SPOTLIGHT - M J Mallon (Contributing Author - Ghostly Writes Anthology 2018)

10/7/2018

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I am a debut author who has been blogging for many moons at my lovely blog home Kyrosmagica: https://mjmallon.com. My interests include writing, photography, poetry, and alternative therapies. I write Fantasy/Paranormal YA, middle grade fiction and micro poetry - haiku and Tanka. I love to read and have written over 100 reviews: https://mjmallon.com/2015/09/28/a-z-of-my-book-reviews/

My alter ego is MJ - Mary Jane from Spiderman. I love superheroes! I was born on the 17th of November in Lion City: Singapore, (a passionate Scorpio, with the Chinese Zodiac sign a lucky rabbit,) second child and only daughter to my proud parents Paula and Ronald. I grew up in a mountainous court in the Peak District in Hong Kong with my elder brother Donald.

As a teenager I travelled to many far-flung destinations to visit my abacus wielding wayfarer dad. It's rumoured that I now live in the Venice of Cambridge, with my six foot hunk of a Rock God husband, and my two enchanted daughters. After such an upbringing my author's mind has taken total leave of its senses! When I’m not writing, I eat exotic delicacies while belly dancing, or surf to the far reaches of the moon. To chill out, I practise Tai Chi. If the mood takes me I snorkel with mermaids, or sign up for idyllic holidays with the Chinese Unicorn, whose magnificent voice sings like a thousand wind chimes.

The Curse of Time

Fifteen-year-old Amelina Scott lives in Cambridge with her dysfunctional family, a mysterious black cat, and an unusual girl who's imprisoned within the mirrors located in her house. When an unexpected message arrives inviting her to visit the Crystal Cottage, she sets off on a forbidden pathway where she encounters Ryder, a charismatic, but perplexing stranger.

With the help of a magical paint set, and some crystal wizard stones she discovers the truth about a shocking curse that has destroyed her family's happiness.

"Unique, Imaginative, charming, enchanting and richly layered this is purely delightful.’

"This delightful book will appeal to teens and young adults who love stories filled with magical crystals, dark family curses, and mysteries waiting to be solved around every corner. Each chapter leads you on a journey of discovery where Amelina earns the right to use three wizard stones to reset the balance of time and finally break the curse that holds her family hostage. A captivating tale!" - Colleen M. Chesebro (Editor)

Buy Book: myBook.to/TheCurseofTime

Look for Ghostly Goodbye in Ghostly Writes Anthology 2018
Release Date: October 31, 2018

The Ghostly Goodbye is a paranormal love story about a young woman called Iris who can’t get over her husband’s death. She is mourning him so much that she feels dead inside. Her husband Ed sends her a ghostly message from beyond the grave via an old forgotten garment in her wardrobe. She responds by dragging herself from her tomb-like bed and he draws back the curtain of death to visit her in a most unusual way.

AUTHOR LINKS

Authors Website: https://mjmallon.com
Collaborative Blog: https://sistersofthefey.wordpress.com
Twitter: @Marjorie_Mallon and @curseof_time
#ABRSC: Authors Bloggers Rainbow Support Club on Facebook
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/17064826.M_J_Mallon
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mjmallonauthor/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mjmallonauthor/
Tumblr: http://mjmallonauthor.tumblr.com/

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Author Spotlight - Jane Risdon (Ghostly Writes Anthology 2018 Contributing Author)

10/4/2018

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Jane Risdon is first and foremost a Crime writer who dabbles now and again in other genres. Published by Accent Press Ltd her most recent novel, Only One Woman, is Women’s Fiction, and is co-written with award-winning best-selling author, Christina Jones, and is set in the UK Music Scene of the late 1960s where she and Christina share their past and love of all things music.

Married to a professional musician and after living all over the world they decided they would continue in the international music industry managing recording artists, songwriters, musicians, and record producers once his band career ended.

Jane has used her experiences in the music business and her interest in crime and espionage to write novels and short stories in the genre. She has also contributed to 14 anthologies – 4 Ghostly Writes anthologies to date with her 5th contribution to be published soon. She writes for online magazines and newsletters, has her own author blog on Wordpress and manages the Only One Woman blog and Facebook pages.

Only One Woman

A lead guitarist whose band is touring and recording in England meets two girls in the swinging sixties.

Buy Links

UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Only-One-Woman-Christina-Jones-ebook/dp/B075D88JBP
USA: https://www.amazon.com/Only-One-Woman-Christina-Jones-ebook/dp/B075D88JBP
Australia: https://www.amazon.com.au/d/Only-One-Woman-Christina-Jones-ebook/B075D88JBP

Other Books by Jane Risdon

Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.co.uk/-/e/B00I3GJ2Y8

Look for The Gift by Jane Risdon in Ghostly Writes Anthology 2018

Release Date: October 31, 2018

The room stank of bleach but that couldn’t be helped, he’d opened the windows and was sure that the odour would soon evaporate. The air fresheners would help too. Nothing was left that he could see but he knew that modern forensics would be able to find blood splatter if they sprayed Luminol where they suspected the murder took place. He’d read some time ago that rubbing surfaces with Horseradish sauce would give a false reading - he carried it with him these days - and he’d done that for added insurance. The murderer didn’t plan on hanging around. If they found anything, which he thought highly unlikely, he’d be long gone. He’d planned on relocating overseas with a new identity and had ensured there wouldn’t be a trail to follow. He hadn’t been successful for as long as he had been without good reason.

His payment arrived in the off-shore bank as agreed once his work had been confirmed upon receipt of his ‘gift’ to his employer. His fee was, as arranged, divided into smaller amounts and sent on to several banks around the globe instantaneously - untraceable, just like he was. It was his last job. He was rich and free. The past was the past, and from now on he was going to enjoy the good life, perhaps he’d even settle down…

Author Links

Amazon Author Page:  https://www.amazon.co.uk/-/e/B00I3GJ2Y8
Facebook Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/JaneRisdon2/
Author Blog: https://janerisdon.wordpress.com/
GoodReads Page:  https://www.goodreads.com/JaneRisdon
Twitter:  https://twitter.com/Jane_Risdon
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/janerisdonwriter/
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.co.uk/janerisdon2/
Only One Woman Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RenzandStella/
Only One Woman Blog: https://onlyonewomanblog.wordpress.com/

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What is the Mysterious Connection Between New Orleans, Vampires, and the Ursuline Nuns? (Spotlight Post-First Posted 5/21/17)

10/4/2018

6 Comments

The Old Ursuline Convent
Photo by Karen M

In my latest novel, Sex, Blood, Rock ‘N’Roll, and Vampyr, all hell breaks loose when vampire Nadia goes on a vampire tour in New Orleans. She is offended that vampires are portrayed as evil by the tour guide and calls him out on it.

People often ask me if New Orleans really has vampire tours. The answer is yes. What else can you expect from a city that has so much haunted history? If you visit our magical city, you should plan one. They are walking tours that begin after dark and take you to various landmarks giving you the history of each one. They are entertaining and fun, but are they factual? Well, I’ll let you decide.

Among the morbid tales, you will hear the story of the notorious Carter Brothers. In the 1930’s, John and Wayne Carter worked as longshoremen on the Mississippi River. One evening, before the brothers returned home from work, a young girl escaped from their French Quarter apartment and ran to the police. Her wrists were cut but not badly enough for her to bleed to death. She claimed she had been locked up for weeks and the brothers had been feeding on her blood. The police immediately investigated and found four other young women tied to chairs with their wrists cut, and over a dozen dead bodies turned up in the apartment drained of their blood. The brothers were arrested and executed for their crimes. Their bodies were buried in the family tomb. Later, when another Carter family member passed away, the tomb was opened to make room for his remains, but there were no remnants of John or Wayne in the grave. To this day, there have been reports of sightings of the brothers wandering the French Quarter.

One of the most famous legends is the casket girls and the Ursuline convent. The old Ursuline Convent on Chartres Street is the oldest building in the Mississippi River Valley. The building no longer functions as a convent. The first floor is a museum, and the second floor is the home of the Archdiocesan archives dating back to 1718. But what’s on the third floor behind those mysterious shutters that are always tightly closed? Nobody seems to know the answer to that question, but there are speculations.

The Ursuline nuns were sent to New Orleans from France in 1725 to establish a hospital and educate the young girls. The early settlers were pirates, scoundrels, murderers, and thieves. Most were prisoners who had been exiled from France and promised if they reformed in Louisiana, they could return. The men outnumbered the women five to one, so the city’s founder, Jean Baptiste LeMoyne Bienville, asked the king of France to send over marriageable women. In 1728, a group of orphans arrived to marry the colonists and populate the swamp called La Nouvelle Orléans.

When the girls arrived, they each brought with them one wooden chest shaped like a coffin called a cassette or a hope chest which held their clothes, linens, and sometimes a bridal gown. Since their eccentric chests looked like caskets, they became known as the casket girls. The girls were brought to the Ursuline convent to live among the nuns until they were married, and their cassettes were stored in the attic until the girls found a husband.

After the arrival of the fille à la cassette, nobody could explain why the mortality rate drastically increased. Suspicion mounted when the girls later opened their chests, and they were found empty. Fear of what the girls may have smuggled into La Nouvelle Orléans prompted the nuns to contact the Archdiocese. As a result of an investigation, the convent attic was sealed off, and the attic shutters sealed with thousands of nails; each one blessed by the pope.

Legend has it vampires were smuggled into La Nouvelle Orléans in the caskets. They remain sealed in the attic to this day, and that explains why the attic shutters remain closed. Occasionally, late at night, someone will see them suddenly fly open in spite of the blessed nails meaning a vampire has come out.

In 1978, two curious paranormal investigators set up in front of the convent and waited through the night for paranormal activity. The next day, they were both found dead on the steps of St. Mary's Catholic Church next to the convent with their bodies drained of eighty percent of their blood.

Is this heinous crime fact or fiction? It may be difficult to verify something that happened centuries ago, but it seems if this alleged murder happened in 1978, it should have been a major news story. I was curious to see if there were any news reports to corroborate this tale, but my investigation turned up nothing. The only stories I could find about it were related to the vampire legend.

Ursuline Academy for girls still exists in New Orleans, but girls who attended in 1978 have no recollection of this event. It seems if this murder happened, there would be something about it in the news archives, but so far nothing has surfaced. Since there is nothing to validate it, unless there’s a special paranormal division of the New Orleans police department we don't know about, I have to assume it's either false or an exaggeration of another murder that happened around the same time, but what do I know?

Another reason for doubt is there are many variations of this tale including stories that the girls themselves were vampires. There are also discrepancies between the dates that the girls arrived in New Orleans and the construction of the convent, but the explanation for that is when people started dying in large numbers, and the vampires were figured out, the caskets were later transferred by day to the convent attic. It seems a little preposterous, but, on the other hand, why are those shutters always tightly closed? Does some kind of evil lurk in that attic?

So that brings us to the question; are the vampire legends fact or fabricated? Legends are legends so let’s just say nobody knows. Whether they are true or not, I still recommend going on a vampire tour in New Orleans. Real or made up, they’re always fun, but don’t be surprised if a real vampire shows up and protests.

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Song of the Vampire Revamped

9/6/2018

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My first novel, Song of the Vampire has been revamped. Why? Because as we learn and grow as writers, we get better at our craft. When I went back and revisited the book after some time had passed, I still felt connected to the story and the characters, but I knew I could make it better. The new 2nd edition contains major editorial editions, but the story is still the same.

The prologue that had little to do with the story has been eliminated, and chapter one has been rewritten focusing more on the characters. There are some other insignificant parts that have been removed, and some fun additions have been included allowing the story to flow better.

If you haven't read it, grab a Kindle or paperback copy now. If you have Kindle Unlimited, it's always free.

Amazon

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Rockin' With the Vampires - Book Trailer - Sex, Blood, Rock 'N' Roll, and Vampyr

8/31/2018

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Rockin' with the vampires in New Orleans. I hope you enjoy the video.

AMAZON

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Laird by Cassia Brightmore - Cover Reveal

5/7/2018

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Laird by: Cassia Brightmore

Genre: Historical Dark Romance

Release Date: June 23, 2018

Cover Design: Simply Defined Art

Model: Lance Jones

Photographer: LJ Photography

Sold.

Traded into the hands of a vicious man as a pawn in war.

Blair Cowan might have been brave, but nothing terrified her more than the dark soulless eyes of the Laird that owned her.

Fearing for her life or not, if he thought she would ever bend to his will; he was about to embark on the greatest battle of his life.

Grown men feared his wrath.

The fiercest warriors ran from his sword.

Battlefields stained in blood spoke of his victories; while vast lands sang of his savage need to possess everything in his path.

And yet, one slip of a girl dared to defy him.

Laird Duncan MuCullogh was not a man to be underestimated. Blair’s fate was his alone to decide. Breaking her would be his greatest accomplishment.

Ensnared in a deadly battle between clans, betrayal ran deep and death knocked often. Amidst the struggle to rise, two powerful Lairds would stop at nothing to be the last man standing. No matter the devious acts they needed to commit to get there.

Conquer. Annihilate. Defeat.

The Highlands of Scotland will never be the same.

Head on over to Cassia’s Author Page on Facebook to enter an exclusive giveaway!

Cassia Brightmore is a Canadian dark romance author. She loves writing dark stories with twisted characters that she hopes will thrill the reader as well as make them fall in love.

She loves hockey, video games and online shopping. If she's not writing or editing, you can usually find her doing one of these things. Writing is her passion and publishing her first book as an indie author is truly a dream come true.

Her titles include:

The Darkness Series

Book One: Malevolent

Book Two: Evanesce

Book Three: Denouement

Book Four: Repentance

The Trauma Series

Book One: Lincoln Hospital

Book Two: Flatline

Book Three: Resuscitation

Standalones

Unworthy

The Book Splash Horror Story

FACEBOOK WEBSITE EMAIL INSTAGRAM

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Distant Time by Karen J Mossman (Guest Post - Karina Kantas)

2/2/2018

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Karina Kantas stopped by The Courtyard today to tell us all about Karen J. Mossman's new book, Distant Time. I'm adding this one to my TBR list.

Distant Time is an Electric Eclectic book, novellas designed to introduce you to new authors.

Description

Imagine visiting a village that has just been invaded by German WW2 soldiers. Now imagine you are no longer invisible.

What would you do if you woke to find yourself in a strange place not knowing who you were? Running outside, you find yourself caught up in a war. Not only that - you run for your life and come face to face with yourself.

Julie is time travelling and something has gone drastically wrong. Read this thrilling adventure where the future needs evidence collected from the past.

Extract

Every nerve in my body was on fire, my heart beating so fast, I could hardly breathe. I was about to run into the open, but saw a soldier aim a gun at a man on his knees. He fired. The man collapsed. I saw his family watching and heard their screams and cries. I stopped dead in my tracks, stared, horrified, before turning to vomit behind a wall.

Wiping my mouth I crawled into a space between outbuildings. Balefully, watching the scene unfold, tears streamed down my face.
Tanks were rolling through the village, crashing into buildings, running over fences, anything that got in their way. Some people were being killed; others herded up like animals for slaughter. Fear fizzed in the air and the noise of terror was just as deafening.

Crouching down, my hands automatically covered my ears. I squeezed my eyes tightly shut. I didn’t want any part of this, yet here I was. I had no idea what to do or where to go. I didn’t want to die.

About the Author

Karen J Mossman is a multi genre author.

This is her second novella under the Electric Eclectic brand. One Christmas was published in December 2017.

She lives in north Wales on the Isle of Anglesey with her husband and Yorkshire Terrier, Tilly.

See all Electric Eclectic book here. http://amzn.to/2EI8HbX

Join their FaceBook page here.

Social Media

Website: https://magicofstories.net

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/karenjmossmanauthor/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/KarenJMoss

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/9814921.Karen_J_Mossman

Amazon: Author.to/KM
Distant Time Link

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Broken Empire by E. A. Copen - Guest Post K. Kantas Author Assist

1/22/2018

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Blurb

Soldier. Traitor. Savior. In an empire where political power is everything, Captain Timothy Val wants one thing: to serve his empire with honor and distinction. But after a mission to quell a revolt goes terribly wrong, Timothy is branded a traitor and barely escapes with his life. His only hope of regaining his lost honor and clearing his family name rests in the hands of a senator planning to use him as the face of a revolution. With an intergalactic war looming and civil unrest spreading through the empire, Timothy must tread carefully. Assassins wait around every corner, and his new allies have made him powerful enemies, enemies that may not be entirely Human. To save the empire, Timothy will have to betray every oath he’s ever taken.

broken empire

Aftermath: Chapter One excerpt http://brokenempire.bolidepublishing.com/aftermath-chapter-…

ABOUT THE AUTHOR E.A. Copen is a prolific speculative fiction author living in beautiful Southeast Ohio with her three kids, three cats, a dog, and a husband. She writes everything from space opera to weird west and all the strange genre mashups in between. When she’s not chained to her keyboard working on her next novel, she enjoys exploring old graveyards and other creepy places. On weekends, you can find her time traveling with her SCA friends, at least until she saves up enough money to leave the Shire and become a Jedi.

https://www.facebook.com/ecopen1
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1002317576536616/
https://www.facebook.com/brokenempire.eacopen/

AVAILABLE TO PREORDER NOW. https://www.amazon.com/Aftermath-Broken-Empire-Book-1-eb…/…/

https://www.facebook.com/ecopen1 (Like E.Copen's facebook page for a chance to win this exciting novel in e-book format.)

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THE COURTYARD

AUTHOR SPOTLIGHT - Wendy Steele - Contributing Author (Ghostly Writes Anthology 2018)

BOOKS BY WENDY STEELE

Look for Wendy's story in Ghostly Writes Anthology 2018
Release Date: October 31, 2018

Author Links

The Thinning Veil

AUTHOR SPOTLIGHT - M J Mallon (Contributing Author - Ghostly Writes Anthology 2018)

The Curse of Time

Look for Ghostly Goodbye in Ghostly Writes Anthology 2018
Release Date: October 31, 2018

AUTHOR LINKS

Author Spotlight - Jane Risdon (Ghostly Writes Anthology 2018 Contributing Author)

Only One Woman

Buy Links

Other Books by Jane Risdon

Look for The Gift by Jane Risdon in Ghostly Writes Anthology 2018

Author Links

What is the Mysterious Connection Between New Orleans, Vampires, and the Ursuline Nuns? (Spotlight Post-First Posted 5/21/17)

Song of the Vampire Revamped

Rockin' With the Vampires - Book Trailer - Sex, Blood, Rock 'N' Roll, and Vampyr

Laird by Cassia Brightmore - Cover Reveal

Distant Time by Karen J Mossman (Guest Post - Karina Kantas)

Broken Empire by E. A. Copen - Guest Post K. Kantas Author Assist

Blurb

Archives

Categories

Want to keep up with the latest?

THE COURTYARD

BOOKS BY WENDY STEELE

Look for Wendy's story in Ghostly Writes Anthology 2018 Release Date: October 31, 2018

Author Links

The Curse of Time

Look for Ghostly Goodbye in Ghostly Writes Anthology 2018 Release Date: October 31, 2018

AUTHOR LINKS

Only One Woman

Buy Links

Other Books by Jane Risdon

Look for The Gift by Jane Risdon in Ghostly Writes Anthology 2018

Author Links

Blurb

Archives

Categories

Want to keep up with the latest?

Look for Wendy's story in Ghostly Writes Anthology 2018
Release Date: October 31, 2018

Look for Ghostly Goodbye in Ghostly Writes Anthology 2018
Release Date: October 31, 2018