If you enjoy a good love story and all things spooky … then this book, A Shadow Of Love by Amy S Cutler, may be just up your street… or alley! Amy is a published author of short stories and poems and this paranormal romance is her first novel – and what a debut! The story had me hooked from page one….

THE STORY

When Annabelle flees her abusive husband and moves into an 1860’s farmhouse, she soon learns that she is not alone; she shares her home with Christian, the ghost of a poet who killed himself in 1917. Christian, wanting nothing but solitude, tries to scare Annabelle away, but once they come together while she is dreaming, they fall in love. The clock is ticking for Christian, for moments after his hanging his fiance magically cursed his spirit to be stuck on earth for one hundred years, and his time is almost up.

With Annabelle’s ex threatening her and the spirit she has fallen in love with on the verge of disappearing, Annabelle becomes obsessed with staying with Christian, and will do anything to be with him.

Being in love with a ghost is bad enough, but for Annabelle, discovering that her true love will be crossing over at any moment pushes her over the edge of reckless behavior.

Publisher: Black Rose Writing

ISBN-10: 1684339402

ISBN-13: 978-1684339402

ASIN: ‎B09NXMRHV2

Print length: 163 pages

Purchase a copy of Shadow of Love on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Bookshop.org. You can also add this to your GoodReads reading list.  

MEET THE AUTHOR

Hello! I am Amy, the author of paranormal romance novel, “A Shadow of Love.” I also run a ski area in New York State with my family, where I spend an inappropriate amount of time writing random pieces of fiction.

“A Shadow Of Love ” is certainly a spooky ghost love story and your writing focus is centered on the spooky, suspense, horror, science fiction, and poetry. Who or what inspired you to start your writing career? 

When I was young, my parents had a house about five hours away from home where we would spend almost every weekend. That’s a lot of time in the car, and I passed the time by reading, or listening to my Walkman. I read a lot of Danielle Stelle and Stephen King – an odd mix, sure – so it’s probably not surprising that my first novel was a mix of romance and ghosts. Writing has always been something that I turned to, either to explain what my mouth couldn’t form words for, or just as a creative outlet. 

“A Shadow Of Love ” is a ghost story with a romantic bizarre twist.  Annabelle being in love with a ghost sounds silly at first but then her nightmares draw you in and Christian becomes real in your imagination too, that it soon seems like being in love with a ghost seems quite normal ….  Which character did you enjoy writing about the most?  Which character was the hardest?

I loved writing about Annabelle. She is independent and brave, leaving an abusive marriage and living on her own. I really enjoyed finding the strength in that vulnerability. I had the hardest time with Scott, her ex. I just didn’t like him, and had a hard time giving him depth. I wrote this while in grad school, and my advisor kept telling me that he was too one dimensional, and I really struggled to try and find a good or sensitive side to him.

I love reading gothic/horror/thriller novels – so what attracted you to writing ghost stories? 

I have always loved ghost stories. I like the thrill of being scared while reading a book or watching a movie, and writing them is even more fun!

If you could visit any country/place in the world, to base a future novel in, where would you go and why? 

I would go to an isolated castle near the ocean. Can you imagine? The storms, the crashing waves, the echoes from the stone walls and floors. I get happy chills just thinking about it.

Are you a bookworm? What is your favourite genre and/or authors? Kindle or actual book? 

Yes I am! My favorite genre is horror, and I love Stephen King,  Peter Straub, Shirley Jackson, Edgar Allan Poe, Ray Bradbury – to name a few.

Actual book … I love to hold a book, the way they smell, the history of where it has been and who else has read it. I appreciate the Kindle for portability and do use one, but I would always rather have a physical book in my hands.

Growing up had you always wanted to be an author or did you have other career aspirations?

I have wanted to be an author since I can remember. I have always also known that I would be in the ski business, which is my family’s business, but it is nice that they can work together and share my time.

Your other big love is skiing – you are Executive Manager at Mount Peter Ski Area in New York.  How old was you when you started skiing?  Do you get ideas for stories whilst on the slopes?

I have been skiing since I was two years old. I grew up on skis, the mountain was my babysitter in the winter months. I do get story ideas while skiing, but then again, I get story ideas at the grocery store. 

Personal now – what outfits and shoes would you normally be found wearing?

I am very casual. Jeans, T-shirt in the summer and sweater in the winter. I like cardigans because my temperature fluctuates so much that I am constantly taking off or putting on a layer, and I can’t stand pulling shirts over my hair all day.

Do you have any favourite shops or online sites?

Sundance is my absolute favorite online store, for not only clothes but home décor and jewelry. I currently have 19 items on my wishlist!

What’s next on your clothes/shoe wish list?

Winter boots! Winter is coming and I have a hard time finding something that is grippy, waterproof, comfortable, and warm but not too warm since I work inside most of the day.

Boots or Shoes?

Well, flip flops. But in the cooler months, I go for boots. Even though I work inside most of the time, I never know when I have to go out onto the mountain, and I’d rather be safe than cold and wet.

Links you would like to share e.g. website/facebook etc.

Website: www.AmysHippieHut.com

On Instagram and Twitter I can be found at AmysHippieHut

BOOK TOUR DATES

Thank you Amy for inviting me onto your book tour, for chatting and for the copy of your book for reviewing. PS. Totally off topic but I love your twitter/instagram handle! 😀

Linda x

All photographs have been published with the kind permission of Amy Cutler.

Header photo is by Linda Hobden and was taken in Lisciano Niccone on the Tuscany/Umbria border in Italy.