Fantasy and Reality, the Double Mix (Guest Post by Donna Crow)

Thank you so much for inviting me to be a guest on your blog, Kerry. Congratulations on publishing your first book and launching your blog! It’s truly a Brave new World out here, isn’t it? Such exciting things going on in the publishing industry. I love being a part of it all and I’m sure you’re having a great time, too.

Since you write fantasy— or what now is called “speculative fiction”— I thought your readers might be interested in my romantic suspense series The Elizabeth & Richard Mysteries because these books deal with the, sometimes narrow, line between fantasy and reality.

In The Shadow of Reality, which takes place at a murder mystery weekend high in the Rockies, much of the story is role-playing. Elizabeth is so caught up in the fantasy of the weekend and in her own personal dreams— which seem to be coming true before her very eyes— that it almost costs her her life.

Finally, shivering with cold and aching with sleep, Elizabeth crouches on a cold, dark balcony, keeping watch to learn the truth she doesn’t want to face:

            She wrapped the blanket tighter around her, stifled a yawn that made her eyes water, and leaned her head back against the cold iron bars of the railing. . .

            It was only the merest click, barely audible. She was sure her heart leaping into her throat made a far louder sound. But it was enough to call her back from the cloud she was drifting away on and rivet all her attention on the two-inch gap between the shade and the window sill.

            The dark figure moved noiselessly across the room with no more substance that a shadow. . .

In A Midsummer Eve’s Nightmare Elizabeth and Richard are attending a magical Shakespearean Festival when the dream is broken. The perfectly acted death scene on the stage wasn’t  acted. And Elizabeth’s costume-designer sister or her actress roommate could be the stalker’s next victim if Elizabeth and Richard can’t sort out the tangled tale among people whose business it is to create fantasy.

From a magical production full of sprites, fairies and sorcerers, Elizabeth is thrust out into the dark tangle of the woods beyond the park backing the theater, racing to reach her friend before the murderer:

            Elizabeth headed toward the playground on the other side of the park. She thought of calling out Erin’s name, but some instinct to remain hidden herself kept her quiet. Now she could hear the gurgling of the creek as it tumbled over smooth rocks by the bridge. Earlier in the day there would have been hordes of laughing children wading and splashing in the water. Now all was as silent as a cemetery.

            Elizabeth shivered, wishing she could have thought of a more cheerful similie.

            Then she heard the scream.

Both books are available in print or ebook format. I hope you’ll take a look at them if you’ve enjoyed those tiny tastes.  And please visit my website www.DonnaFletcherCrow.com I have lots of information about all my books, myself and my garden.  Retreating to my rose garden is my favorite real-life fantasy. What’s yours?

Donna Fletcher Crow is the author of 38 books, mostly novels dealing with British history.  The award-winning Glastonbury, an Arthurian grail search epic covering 15 centuries of English history, is her best-known work. Donna and her husband live in Boise, Idaho.  They have 4 adult children and 11 grandchildren. She is an enthusiastic gardener.

Her newest release is A Darkly Hidden Truth, book 2 in her clerical mystery series The Monastery Murders. She also writes the Lord Danvers series of Victorian true-crime novels and the romantic suspense series The Elizabeth & Richard Mysteries.