Witches, Curses and Timeless Love. Cursed by Lynn Ricci.

Today it’s my pleasure to interview Lynn Ricci, author of Cursed, a paranormal romance.

ISBN:     1481276034

ASIN: B00AQO2ISW

Number of pages: 259

Word Count: 70,000

The story takes place over the Christmas holiday… it involves a witch . . . and other surprises…

Book Description

When Sarah Carter moves to Boston to escape her past she realizes there's more than meets the eye with the landlord and her mysterious new best friend.

What happened to the owner of this brownstone and what secrets lie within its walls and continue to torment?

Witchcraft, curses and timeless love are not what Sarah expected to find, but as she learns more, she wonders is she actually running back to her past instead of from it?

Purchase at Amazon

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Interview time!

SKY:  How did you come up with the title?

LYNN:   Cursed is a simple, one word title that shares its name with many other books out there.  But it suited the book so well I stuck with it since the first chapter was written.  Cursed refers to not only Masons obvious affliction, but Sarah too with her loss, and both of them literally with the witch.  If I write the prequel I am thinking of, you will get to know Selena more too and realize she was cursed in her own way.

SKY:   What made you choose the main setting for your book?

LYNN:   I have lived just outside of Boston my whole life and when I was young, my parents had a restaurant in the city so I spent a lot of time near the South End where the book takes place.  The brownstones in that neighborhood are beautiful but some of the striking detail of the facades during the day, can look a little sinister at night.

SKY:   If you could spend an hour in real life with one of your characters, who would it be and why?

LYNN:   Mason Brown for sure.  He might be deformed and horrible to look at, but underneath there is a kind soul who has seen and experienced so much over time.  The depth of that experience would offer never ending stories.

SKY:   Tell us about your book cover and how it relates to your story.

LYNN:   The story unfolds as Sarah Carter moves into a lovely old brownstone in a fashionable Boston neighborhood.  Although it's a grand old house, there is something dark just under the surface.

Chris Harrington, a photographer in the Boston area, captured what I was looking for with the photo of the house and the gas lantern. A cover designer, For the Muse Designs, brought in the elements of the night sky, full moon and touch of magic.  I thought the cover told a good story in itself and is reflective of the base of the story - what happened at this house. 

SKY:   What sort of personality does your heroine have?

LYNN:   Sarah is a smart, hardworking young woman, with strong family ties - but seems a little lost in life.  There is no man in her life and she is struggling to start over in a new city and make friends so appears a bit lonely. So much so, that she isn't cautious enough with who she allows in as a new friend.  Over the course of the story Sarah's tender nature becomes evident as she tries to befriend the hideous and aloof landlord.  The story has been compared to a Beauty and the Beast type tale.

SKY:   Did you enjoy writing one scene above all the rest? If so, share.

LYNN:   The ending.  I knew how it would end when I was about a third of the way through writing the book.

SKY:   Tell us about your favorite writing environment. Is it indoors, outdoors, a special room, etc.

LYNN:   In the summer months I have a covered deck with outside furniture and, most importantly, a plug.  I like to sit out there with my laptop.  Being from Boston, those months are short-lived so mostly I am in whatever part of the house is quietest!

SKY:   What sources do you use for research?

LYNN:  A lot of research went into Cursed but the research was done online.  A few trips into the city to scout around, but mostly I read and researched the Boston Fire Department, the Great Fire and other historical references right from my laptop.

SKY:   It’s time to promo. What is your favorite marketing tool?

LYNN:   I do a lot on social media - having a Facebook page and Twitter account.  Also I am active on Goodreads and of course have a blog and a website.  It's important to be able to have a direct conversation with readers and that is really why I write - to have people read and enjoy my stories and be able to interact.  I am happiest when I see a stranger post a review or star rating on Amazon or Goodreads or follows me on my Facebook fan page. It makes the work worthwhile. 

SKY:   What genre/genres do you prefer to write? Are there other genres you’d like to write in the future?

LYNN:   Romance.  But there are so many sub-genres under romance that I have plenty of material for the future!  My debut novel was a contemporary romance - or similar to womens lit since the story was very much about strong female friendship as well as the lost love and second chances.  I enjoyed writing Cursed as a paranormal and have a few other paranormal romance stories kicking around in my head. I also have a story geared more for young adult readers that is more fantasy that I hope to get to someday soon while my kids are still young enough to be my built in critics!

SKY:  Great interview, Lynn! I live in southern New Hampshire and spent plenty of time in Boston growing up. Such a great city! Always a pleasure to meet a 'local.' Wishing you much success in your career. :-)

Excerpt 

Chapter 1

Staring out of the small dormered window, he could just see the corner of the street. Leaves on the trees lining the sidewalk were moving past their prime of orange and red and turning brown as autumn made its way through Boston. The ones still clinging to the trees blocked part of his view. Absentmindedly he pulled his pocket watch out of his pants and checked the time although he instinctively knew it was still early. Purposely, he had chosen this spot to watch the street for a sign. He didn’t want to miss a thing.

Mrs. Casey was nearly three stories below waiting on the sidewalk next to her white BMW. He gazed down at the plump woman in her camel jacket and brown plaid scarf. She had just arrived and was on her mobile phone, trusty bag over her shoulder. As he watched from above, he wondered if he might keep her for a while. She had proven to be discreet and respectful in their dealings thus far –always keeping her eyes conveniently averted. That was a big plus in his book.

The sky had been bright blue and clear all morning but now the sunlight dimmed and small gusts of wind kicked up from time to time, stirring up the brittle leaves, scratching at the sidewalk and causing drifts against the wrought iron fence. He would go out and clean up the two small patches of grass in front of the building later, when it got dark. After all these years, he was comfortable working outside after nightfall.

A flicker of yellow caught his eye as a taxi turned from Columbus Avenue onto Dunhill – a small side street in Boston’s South End, lined with fashionable brownstones. He straightened his bent frame as best he could and intently watched the cab's approach, completely absorbed in his surroundings and on high alert. Below, Mrs. Casey tucked her phone away and pulled her coat closed. Is it getting colder, he thought, touching the glass pane in front of him, the chill spreading through his fingertips.

The yellow checker taxi glided to a stop in front of the building and a young woman with ash blonde hair stepped out but held the door and leaned back in. His heart clenched as if it had been submerged in cold water and he grasped the windowsill to steady himself. From his vantage point, he could see the cabbie handing her some bills. She closed the car door and turned to Mrs. Casey, shaking hands. He wished he could hear the conversation, but knew that it would be pleasantries and then the expected basics.

Both women squinted up towards the window and he faded back as quickly as possible. He was sure he was a moment too late, but what did it really matter? He snuck another quick look and relaxed, realizing Mrs. Casey was pointing out items on the ground level – most likely the security system, or flower boxes. But as he continued to watch he finally saw it: the sign he had been waiting for.

Small gusts that had been making the crunchy, dry leaves rise and dance with their still colorful counterparts whipped up again a few buildings further along the street and came towards the women like a mounting wave. The leaves blew up waist high, swirling and twirling onto themselves until the force reached the women and spun around them in a leaf tornado. Mrs. Casey stepped back towards her BMW parked at the curb to get out of the maelstrom and the leaves continued, picking up energy and speed; surrounding the flaxen-haired woman, lifting and tossing her long hair like a Medusa at the center of the funnel. In reaction to the onslaught, the young woman covered her head with her arms and ran up the front walk toward the building to get out of its path. The wind disappeared and the leaves fell to the ground on the sidewalk as quickly as it had started. Overhead the sky was once again blue.

She’s here, he thought.

The leaves settled gently on the sidewalk. Sarah laughed, removing a few dry leaves that had snagged on her scarf and sweater.

“My goodness! It’s getting blustery!” Mrs. Casey exclaimed as she hurried across the brick sidewalk to the open gate that Sarah ran through, moments before. “Are you ok, dear?”

“I’m fine, really.” Sarah said almost to herself while smoothing her hair. “Just a little wind.”

“Well, dear, if it was any more wind it would have swept you away to Oz.” Sarah heard the deep Boston accent in the woman’s voice and felt immediately comfortable with the realtor. The cadence was almost like she was listening to her maternal grandmother, Rose. Growing up in Connecticut, her grandmother's Boston accent was fodder for jokes, but she always associated the distinctive pronunciations with happy childhood memories. Sarah waited as Mrs. Casey reached into her oversized bag and easily pulled out a business card.

“Thank you, Mrs. Casey,” Sarah said as she examined the card. “I’m so glad you were able to meet me on short notice.” Sarah stood on the bottom step and waited as Mrs. Casey dug paperwork out of her briefcase. Glancing around the small front enclosure she wasn’t sure was big enough to qualify as a yard, she noticed the black wrought iron flower boxes mounted below the bay windows, full of deep russet, red, and burnt orange mums. Mrs. Casey finished pulling out the listing sheet and noticed where Sarah was looking.

“The flowers are lovely, aren’t they? You should see this place in the summer! I don’t know how he does it. No one ever sees him working in the garden but it’s always immaculate.” She leaned over and pointed to the side of the building indicating she actually meant around the corner. “Over there are the rose bushes. This is actually one of the few brownstones that has a little side yard since the alley cuts through there.”

Sarah looked at the old-world cobblestone alley. Mrs. Casey continued her garden tour, “Not big enough to do much with, but he keeps pink roses in the summer all along those wooden trellises.”

“It’s very nice. You can tell the property is well kept; it’s wonderful that he cares so much for the landscaping.”

“Everything is kept well. This was a grand house in her day.” Mrs. Casey stressed the last sentence as she looked lovingly up to the front door. The realtor continued with a tone of letting Sarah in on a fact already well known in certain social circles, “This is one of the prime rental properties in the South End, dear.”

Mrs. Casey started to climb the front steps slowly. Sarah wondered if it was her age that slowed her down but this seemed different, almost hesitant. As if on cue, the woman turned and looked down at Sarah, two steps below. She put one hand on the railing to steady herself before speaking.

“Before we go in, I must tell you something. We will be meeting with the owner in a few minutes. He’s very particular about his renters since he lives on the first floor.”

Sarah started to say she would make a good impression but the woman laid her gloved hand on her arm to quiet her.

“There’s more.” Mrs. Casey looked down at her feet in discomfort with what she was about to say. “He had an accident . . . of some sort. I am not sure exactly what happened but he is disfigured and very, very self-conscious.” Her eyes darted back to Sarah’s and locked. “Don’t act like you pity him. Don’t ask any questions about it. And, whatever you do, don’t look straight at him.”

“Is it that bad?”

“I really don’t know the extent of it. He tries to cover as much he can and I pretend like nothing is wrong. But it’s bad. I always keep myself busy and interested in looking at something else.”

“I will avoid looking at him. Promise.”

“I’ve lost some good tenants by them being too interested in him. He’s a proud man. He has done a lot of beautiful work; everything in this home has been lovingly maintained. The whole building possesses a charm you just don’t see anymore.”

Mrs. Casey searched Sarah’s face, making sure all this had settled in.

“Ready, dear?”

“Ready.” 

About the Author

Lynn Ricci was born and raised in the Boston area. Her professional background is in financial communications and she pursues her artistic endeavors of writing and painting while enjoying an active family life with her two children and dog, Fenway. In the summer, she enjoys relaxing in Chatham on Cape Cod.

A writer of several published short stories including Daydreams which was picked up for an anthology collection through Outskirts Press, The Dating Intervention is her debut novel and Cursed, a paranormal romance, is her most recent novel released December 2012.

More information on novels available and underway can be found at Lynn's Website. 

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