A Ghost Meets An Angel

by Elizabeth Eagan-Cox

 

ISBN-10: 1594318360
ISBN-13: 978-1594318368

Paperback 206pp.; publisher: Write Words, Inc./Cambridge Books


Gavin turned to me and queried, "This isn't the first time you've seen ghosts, is it?" ...And so begins Shannon Delaney's assignment to write publicity for the Spotted Coyote. As the right spot for Grub, Spirits and Conjuring, it's an entertainment venue that's a re-invention of an Old-West Saloon in California's historic mountain town of Julian. 


The Spotted Coyote is more than what Shannon bargained for when she discovers the century-old murder of little Sarah Morghan. Sarah's ghost will not be denied, leaving Shannon no choice but to pursue haunting clues that pair jumping rope rhymes with rare books, treasure lore with a ghostly angel and an uncanny connection to the Scottish paranormal author, Robert Louis Stevenson. Assisting Shannon is Alex Blackthorne and Shannon's very own spectral guide; phantom magician from the 1800s, Eric Blackthorne.

To learn more about the book and it's author, go to: www.ElizabethEaganCox.net

 

September 2010 Midnight Brew
The Midnight Moon Café is proud to introduce author

Elizabeth Eagan-Cox


Welcome Elizabeth!
  
MMC: Who influenced you the most to become a writer?
EEC: Not so much “WHO” as “WHAT.”
I call it Blood Memory, a concept very much appreciated in Celtic culture, though by no means is blood memory unique to Celtic beliefs… the Celts seem to be more open to talking about it. Simply stated, blood memory is a reference to the intangible talents we inherit through blood DNA and the sprit within the blood DNA. 
For example… society often refers to a person who has a talent for music as having inherited that talent. The same can be said for a person’s athletic ability or a sense of humor being identical to a relative’s comedic antics.  Writing, as the talent of written expression/communication is also a spirit/inherited talent. In my Irish culture it is often called “word dancing.” I have my ancestors to thank for it. Many years ago, one of my siblings questioned why I was so driven to write. I answered by saying that I write to quiet the voices of my ancestors.

MMC:  How much time do you dedicate to research for your stories?
EEC: At least an equal amount of time is spent in research as is in writing. And I love the research part. Because of my background as a former resource/reference librarian and an expert in genealogy (I have taught genealogy) I have made excellent use of my research skills.

Honestly, if an aspiring writer were to ask me what college level classes they could benefit from (in addition to the typical English/Writing courses) I’d advise taking a class in Library Science as a worthwhile choice. Knowing what a librarian knows is the best route to research.

MMC:  Do you consider yourself a plotter, a pantser, or a little of both?
EEC: I plot and then dream the sequences of the plot’s ups and downs and twists and turns. I also summarize each chapter as I go along, which helps to plot. I use index “Recipe” cards for each chapter.

The other type of plotting I find critical is that all the main characters have their own family tree. Genealogy is so much a part of my life, that it was a natural step to create a family tree for my characters.

MMC:  Can you tell our readers a little about your latest book?
EEC: “A Ghost Meets an Angel” has the lead character, Shannon Delaney in the backcountry of San Diego County, California. She has taken an assignment to write publicity for the Spotted Coyote… a family venue of Old-West style that offers up grub, spirits and conjuring. The setting is in Julian, a real town in the mountains of San Diego County. Julian has seen it all as a historic Old-West town. Today, it is a special getaway spot for weekends and vacations in a true four-season environment…  unique to Southern California.

Because Shannon has an emerging talent to ‘speak to the past’ she has a companion of sorts, a Victorian-age Scottish magician who is also a ghost: Eric Blackthorne. I should clarify, though the story takes place in present time, ghosts from past eras have their own sense of timing in relation to the plot.

Ghosts--as real characters--are prominent in the story line of all three Shannon Delaney books. I treat the ghosts, especially Eric, as spectral beings that have definitive purpose in their ghostly lives.

The best way for anyone to get to know the books is to go to my web site: www.ElizabethEaganCox.net and read free excerpts. For each book I have the entire first chapter available to read as a free excerpt.

MMC:  What do you think readers will like best about this book?
EEC: It gives a different view of Southern California, which in the general media is portrayed as sand, surf and palm trees! This is not Julian, a mountain town that gets snow in winter and has a forest of pine trees, oh and no smog!

A Ghost Meets an Angel weaves fascinating and colorful threads of real history in with the fictional story. For instance, the “Ghost Angel” on the book’s cover is a grave statuary found in Natchez, Mississippi and in County Cork, Ireland. 

I have Mississippi ancestry as well as ancestors from County Cork, Ireland. The entire story for this book was hatched on Halloween night, 2008 as I stood in the Natchez, Mississippi Cemetery and stared at the Ghost Angel. I asked my husband to take a picture of it as I stretched out my hands and made a makeshift square frame with my fingers to indicate that angle I wanted. 

That photo became the book cover. And that was how the story was born. I had no idea or intention of trying to find a story in Mississippi, after all I was on vacation and writing another book was an idea I had left at home on the back burner. The seed was planted that Halloween night, and the mystery that is at the center of the story grew from there. The story takes place in Julian, California because Southerners pioneered the town after the Civil War; hence I could tie-in the Natchez link.

MMC: Did you have any 'A-ha' moments while writing your book?
EEC: All three of the Shannon Delaney novels have a French connection. I do not plan this, but I always try to incorporate a French cultural tie-in in each story. I just never know when or how it will occur… this is the Eureka ‘A-ha’ moment for each book. I cannot say what the French connection is for A Ghost Meets an Angel, because doing so could be misleading to a reader. But it is there! 

And FYI… the French connection is a tribute to my French refugee Huguenot ancestors Cyprian and Margaret Prou who came to Virginia in the late 1600s as indentured servants. Their grandson, Prue Benson is one of my American Revolutionary War Patriots, for which I have documented lineage in the archives of the Daughters of the American Revolution “D.A.R.” in Washington DC.

MMC:  Let's say you've just landed a movie deal, and you get to pick the actor who'll play the hero from your latest book. Who would you pick? And why?
EEC: Hmmm… the ‘hero’ would be the mid-20s Shannon Delaney, the lead character in the series. Shannon has hazel green eyes, dark auburn, shoulder length hair. She is spunky, intelligent, and has an uncanny ability to zero in on a cold case mystery. What actress today could play her? Honestly, I have not the foggiest idea… perhaps a reader has a better idea on how to cast Shannon?

MMC:  Are there any other genres you'd like to tackle in your writing?
EEC: No. A cozy paranormal mystery is what I am passionate about.

MMC:  For those not familiar with your work, which book would you recommend to read first and why?
EEC: Each of the three books is unto itself a stand-alone mystery, so why not start with the latest one: A Ghost Meets an Angel.

MMC:  What do you know now you wished you'd known "then"?
EEC: The editing process is the hardest part. Especially so because my books are published in every imaginable e-book format and then also in paperback. The e-book process can be very frustrating because the various e-formats are all different and there are so many quirky things that cannot be helped due to the technology, which has not been standardized, and in all practicality, may never be standardized.

MMC:  Have you ever seen a ghost or witnessed paranormal activity?
EEC: Yes. And… for a more in-depth answer I urge anyone interested to go to my web site and listen in on some of the radio shows I have been a guest on. From the menu on my web site: www.ElizabethEaganCox.net choose  “Author’s Appearances.” 

I am a frequent talk radio guest in the paranormal investigation community because I assist paranormal investigators with ‘how-to’ web sites for conducting in-depth research on the deceased. I’ve been called the Ghost Hunter’s Librarian for this reason. I would not do this or be so passionate about helping with the tedious part of research if I did not believe in ghosts.

MMC:  What is your guilty pleasure?
EEC: Magie Noire perfume by Lancome, France. Nearly every day I dab a little of it on the inside of my wrists. Life is too short not to enjoy some of the small pleasures on a daily basis.

MMC:  Do you have a newsletter, blog, or website where fans can read about you and your books?        
EEC: I have a stand-alone web site: www.ElizabethEaganCox.net
I can be found on Facebook and Twitter (EeaganCox), but I always refer people to my web site. I do not communicate through Facebook. Visitors to my web site will find that I do not have strings attached… I will not start sending you e-mail and there is no need to create a log-in name. I answer all e-mail that goes through my web site, provided the user follows my spam-blocking directions for sending e-mail. Please contact me via my web site for direct and personal communication.
 
As for my books…they are available at retailers all over the globe. I have a few retailers listed on my web site. I’m a traditional author… I do not sell books. I will be happy to personally sign a book that is sent to me by USPS mail. Anyone interested in having a book signed should contact me on my web site to make arrangements. 

And I should mention… as a paranormal enthusiast I am exceedingly delighted that the book cover for A Ghost Meets an Angel was sanctioned by the United States Postal Service for a first-class postage stamp. My postmaster said that to the best of her knowledge (20 plus years with USPS) this is the first ever ‘paranormal’ stamp that actually says ‘paranormal’ on the stamp. My “Ghost Angel” stamps are real, and although I do not sell them I do have a link to licensed products on my web site. And I understand that the stamps can be purchased elsewhere, because, like my books, I am receiving requests to sign the stamps! The stamps are sold in a single page/sheet of 20 stamps. 

May I close with a few words of gratitude? 

Writing is a business that requires an ‘in concert’ rapport between author and reader. First and foremost I am a reader and I try to keep that fact fresh in mind when I write a novel. So, to the book readers of the world, especially those who enjoy a cozy mystery, I say Thank You!
Sincerely,
Elizabeth Eagan-Cox

Watch for the special featurette of this book on our blog this month, for your chance to win a copy signed by the author!