Second Death Blog Tour - guest post by Gwen Gardner

Please welcome the awesome Gwen Gardner talking about character relationships in her newest Indigo Eady book, Second Death.

Stubborn Old Ghost vs Teen Psychic: Who Wins?

Character relationships are a lot like real life relationships, only more so. They’re loving, complicated and sometimes over the top. When you write paranormal, it adds a whole new ‘dimension’ to any relationship.

Take Indigo Eady (ghost-whispering teen psychic) and Franny Bishop (interfering Victorian ghost-madam). They ‘reside’ in the same household and basically have a mother-daughter relationship. As a Victorian, Franny believes that Indigo needs a man. She’s a good-hearted old ghost and wants Indigo to have her heart’s desire. As a woman who *cough* knows men, Franny knows Badger is the one for Indigo. No matter what Indigo says Franny will have her way!

Check out this excerpt from Second Death. To set the scene, Indigo and the gang are tasked with investigating the case of missing paranormals. It’s determined that the common factor is the monthly ball at Gertrude’s Garden.

Gertrude’s Garden is the non-dimensional nightclub where all paranormals are welcome. It’s also the place where living people with no psychic abilities whatsoever can see and experience paranormal things. A place where the living and dead alike can mix and mingle.

So Franny finagles invitations for Indigo, Badger and Simon, and plans a little matchmaking along the way.

First, Indigo finds the invitation on her bed...

Your presence is requested at the monthly cotillion
Saturday, February 25th 2012
Gertrude’s Garden
10:00 p.m. - 12:00 a.m.
Formal Attire
Food and Beverages
Entertainment by Orblight Orchestra

The second item was a matching dance card with a small pencil attached to a narrow, tasseled cord. The inside listed different dances such as the waltz and quadrille. Several of the dances already had names scribbled next to them. Not sure if I was flattered or not.

Two days to prepare, then. And by prepare, I meant talk myself into going back there.

POP!

I jumped slightly. “Franny, do you have to startle me like that?”

“Sorry, dear. I wanted to make sure you received the invitations. We’ll need time to alter a dress and style your hair.” Franny, as always, was dressed to kill. Today she wore a fuscia-colored day dress, form-fitting on the top to accentuate her bosom.

Looking at her, I shook my head. “I don’t know. I don’t really dress up well like you do. I hadn’t really planned on dancing, either. Couldn’t I just wear my jeans?”

She looked horrified. “Of course not! Besides, you’ll never get past Gertie wearing that garb you young women wear these days. It’s scandalous! I’m sure Badger would like to see you dressed up...”

I sighed. “I told you. Badger and I aren’t—”

“That’s nice, dear. Now, meet me in the attic and we’ll find something lovely to impress Badger.”

“Stubborn old ghost!”

So tell me, do you think Indigo wore jeans?

Second Death:

The Sabrina Shores spirit community is in crisis. 

Ghosties are mysteriously disappearing at an alarming rate. 

They’re simply...gone. A second death.

The clues are limited, but it’s clear that the one common factor is Gertrude’s Garden, the nightclub social center of the spirit community which just happens to adjoin the Sabrina Shores cemetery: the one place Indigo makes a point of not going. Ever. She has her reasons.

Indigo Eady:

Much to her chagrin, Indigo Eady is a celebrity among spirits. She’s the girl who can see and speak with them. She has a proven track record in helping spirits find their murderers, so it’s no surprise when she’s drafted onto the Missing Paranormal Committee. Who better to help them than the experienced teenage ghost whisperer- investigator and her friends?

 

Order Second Death on Amazon or iTunes

 

Gwen Gardner is a native Californian living in sunny San Diego, where her love of reading and writing led to a BA in English literature. Life is now complete with her husband, two dogs and a daily call from her daughter.

Since ghosts feature prominently in her young adult Indigo Eady Paranormal “Cozy” Mystery series, she has a secret desire to meet one face to face - but will run screaming for the hills if she ever does. Gwen adores travel and experiencing the cultures and foods of different countries. She is always up for an adventure and anything involving chocolate - not necessarily in that order.

 

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