The Pond" By Award Winning Author Tamera Lawrence takes the "GOLD"

Readers Favorite Book Review and 2011 Award Contest

Fiction - Mystery - General - Category

Author Biography

Tamera Lawrence was born on February 21st in Norristown, Pennsylvania. She graduated from Methacton High School. She loves to write and is an avid reader. "THE POND" is her first novel. Currently, she is working on several writing projects and loves to support other writers as they follow their dreams.

Book Review Reviewed by Fran L. for ReadersFavorite.com

***** Five out of Five Stars

Eight-year-old Carl Weber died for no reason. When his mom dropped him off at his friend Mike’s house, the maid slammed the door in his face and left this poor child out in the cold. Hoping to find his way home, he decided to cut through what he thought was a frozen pond, only to meet a cold and frigid death. Twenty-five years later, when Mike Adams, his wife Donna, and seven-year-old daughter Kim move into his late mother’s mansion, unexplainable things begin to happen leading back to Carl’s death: things fall, break, and spill for no apparent reason, and the silence of the countryside is deafening. What is really behind his death and what is behind the unusual occurrences in this town?

Award Wining Author Tamera Lawrence delivers an ending that is filled with strange and unusual surprises and a clever twist that you won’t expect. Not only are the characters well defined, strong and believable, but they blend together creating a compelling, heartbreaking story. Great read for those who enjoy a good mystery.

You can Purchase "The Pond" in paperback format at Amazon for $16.95 PURCHASE HERE!!!

You can Purchase "The Pond" in Kindle Format for $2.99 at Amazon PURCHASE HERE!!!!!!

Have any Mystery Novel Lover's on Your Holiday Gift List?

If you do then why not get them the Mystery Novel, "The Pond" by Award Winning Author Tamera Lawrence?

Here is a little overview of how "The Pond" became an Award Winning Novel!

Do the Adam's have more to fear from the living or the dead?

"He grabbed the edge of the ice, clinging desperately. Murky water filled his boots, becoming as weighted anchors. Numbing cold squeezed his limbs as he tried to scream for help. But his chest hurt. It was hard to breathe. His heart beat wildly in his thin chest. Water seeped inside his clothing, his skin turned to ice. He stared up at the sky. The ice cracked again, creating fragments of drifting sheets. As his glove caught on the jagged edge, his hand slid out. Dark water swirled over him as he began to sink into the frigid depths of the black void."

Twenty-five years have passed since eight-year-old Carl Weber drowned in Gray's Pond, and now one member of the Adams family has returned to Kimberton, Pennsylvania, to reside once again in the old mansion. It is time for Mark Adams to revisit his past, and for his wife Donna and daughter, Kim, to become acquainted with their neighbors, a rather odd old couple who own the farm next door.

Each day, however, brings strange occurrences, increasing paranormal activity, till it becomes agonizingly clear that ghosts of the past are trying to make their presence known. As the search for the truth be. .

You can purchase your copy of "The Pond" at:

Barnes and Noble - Paperback Format for $16.95

Amazon - Paperback Format for $16.95

Amazon - Kindle Format for $2.99  (Remember Kindle Format Books can be sent as a gift to anyone that has an email address!

Award Winning Author Tamera Lawrence wishes you and your family a "Very Happy Thanksgiving"

When you are making your choice of which "Pie" to try, think of who made or brought the "Pie" and  what you really know about the Person!

Stayed Tuned to the Blog to find out about "The Pie"

About Author Tamera E Lawrence By Jill Elizabeth

Author Tamera E Lawrence
As a child, I had a vivid imagination and many imaginary playmates. I read anything I could get my hands on and wanted to write books like Laura Ingalls.

In high school, I aspired to become a writer. But life for me took a different turn. I married young and had 2 small boys before I could blink an eye and began helping my husband achieve his own goals. So writing took a back seat as I concentrated on running an excavating business. Along the way, we had four more children, making us a family of 8.

Whew! Still, I wrote in my spare time, writing mostly poetry. As my children grew, I wrote my first novel. It was 150 pages long. I sent a sample to an agent, who remarkedly called me and told me I had talent. He said my book needed to be about 350 pages and that I needed to learn to polish my material. I was thrilled.

So… I took some writing courses, learned how to write, edit and polish. I met a teacher and author, who took me under her wing and showed me how to use POV as well as keep a story flowing. Her influence has greatly helped me in the way a college never could. “THE POND” was half written when I began my schooling and I finished the book in 2007.

I have 2 more books that I am currently working on. I would have to say that my writing a novel comes second nature to me and the challenge now is writing the perfect query letter. It’s amazing how I can write 400 pages of a novel and yet struggle with that one single letter.

But I’m finally figuring it out. OR so I think!

Anyway…

God bless all writers.

Keep Checking This Blog for Updates!

Guest Post: A Handful of Thoughts, Courtesy of Author Tamera Lawrence

By Jill Elizabeth posted this on October 27th, 2011

Today’s guest post consists of a handful of thoughts (originally presented as blog posts) by author Tamera Lawrence whose novel "The Pond" is now available.

Enjoy!

Subliminal events that evoke feelings of “Hometown”

Summers always remind me of celebrations and gatherings especially when I was a kid. The frequency just seemed to naturally come in quick succession. There’s Mayday, the last day of school, summer camp, Fourth of July, country fairs and family vacations. All of these events make me think of warm weather and good times.

As I was writing “The Pond,” I wanted to build upon the idea of creating an ambiance that spoke to the memories of home that we all share. After all, if readers can’t relate to the subject of your story, then the story will be spoken but never heard. One of those memories for me was going to the fair each year. The whiff of cotton candy and candied apples while walking well-worn paths to the Ferris wheel and other rides all come flooding back to me. I am betting that you recall the same general memories too. Those types of memories are what help to shape a story like “The Pond.”

I’ll be writing more posts about “relate-able” events and memories because I think they are an important part in telling a story that has plot lines and situations that are horrifying. Most people don’t experience some of the events that Michael Adams and his family did in their new home. Tying the common thread among us helps to bring the reader along for the ride and experience a roller coaster of emotions.

The roller coaster is ready and waiting for you!
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Panic Attacks

According to Wikipedia, the definition of a “Panic Attack” is as follows:

"Panic attacks" are very sudden, discrete periods of intense anxiety, mounting physiological arousal, fear, stomach problems and discomfort that are associated with a variety of somatic and cognitive symptoms. The onset of these episodes is typically abrupt, and may have no obvious triggers.

If you have ever suffered from one of these attacks, you will quickly discover that there is nothing psychosomatic about this disorder. It seems that at one time or another, everyone has experienced some form of a panic attack. I know some friends who have difficulty with this horrible attack and the experience can be terrifying.

The type of attacks can vary by including one or a combination of feelings or physical agitation:
Trembling, fear, rapid breathing, feeling of having a heart attack, heart racing, sweating and mind racing and a host of other types of emotions and physical feelings.

Sometimes, describing a fearful situation can bring on a panic attack…in my book, “The Pond,” I wrote the main characters to have similar experiences with panic attacks that they never had before. Why? Perhaps just reading about a panic attack can bring one on. The only cure is to buy a copy of the book, “The Pond” and read it!

Are You Affected by Local Legends where a Young Boy drowned in a Pond?

When I was growing up, legend around town was that a certain old bridge hidden by foliage from the road was “haunted.” I don’t know if it is fact, but people’s curiosity confirmed that if nothing else, the mystique was there. Legend was that a young mother was walking over a bridge one day, lost her footing and accidentally dropped her child in the water below. And, according to the locals, her ghost walks the bridge searching for her child. Curious onlookers (usually teenagers) still visit the bridge and listen for the sounds of her steps.

This type of folklore has always intrigued me. It’s one of the reasons I wanted to put this type of theme in “The Pond.” The idea that a legend can sustain and thrive in this day and age simply by word of mouth from generation to generation rekindles the art form of storytelling. Think back to your past; do you remember folklore in your hometown? When you read “The Pond” it will make you wonder whether the folklore is fact or fiction.

"The Pond" is available in Paperback for $16.95 and you can purchase here for you or to give as a gift.

"The Pond" is available in Kindle Format for $2.99 and you can purchase here for you or send as a gift to anyone that has an email addresss.

How fast they grow!

Award Winning Author Tamera Lawrences Beautiful Grandbaby!

How do you know when "The Pond" is safe for Play?

With Winter already starting in certain areas there are important and helpful tips to know if "The Pond" is safe for play. Snow and Ice can be fun to play in but, you also need to be prepared for the dangers that also exist.

• You must realize that there is not really any such thing as a "safe pond"! There are precautions that always need to be taken.
• Be sure to have an emergency plan in place in case you run into trouble
• The safety of the ice is dependant on many factors, not just one
•  Stay safer when you are around ice on "The Pond" when the area is checked frequently by the authorities
• Observe the ice on "The Pond" for cracks, breaks, weak spots before taking your venture
• Test the thickness of "The Pond" before proceeding
• Stay in a group in case one of you get in trouble while playing or walking on "The Pond"

"The Pond" by Award Winning Author Tamera Lawrence

Paperback Edition is  $16.95 and can be PURCHASED HERE!

Kindle Version is a great value at just $2.99 and can be PURCHASED HERE!

Enjoy the Winter, and Be Careful of "The Pond"

Do not forget to Follow Award Winning Author Tamera Lawrence and "Thd Pond"

You can Follow me also on Twitter: TameraLawrence1

You can Follow me on Facebook at the link HERE!

#1 Most Read Blog Post is - "Quirky Characters," Why are they there?

Have you ever read a book and became immediately taken with the plot and characters? I love those types of books and I also love it when “quirky” characters begin to show themselves, offering a bit of diversion from the main story.

At first, it almost seems like this odd character is there to simply interrupt the process of the story. But, on second take, it can be other things.

For example, in the classic novel, “To Kill a Mockingbird,” the main story is one of Atticus Finch, an idealistic lawyer, who defends a black man wrongly accused of a crime against a white woman in a small southern town. The story is set in the early 1920’s somewhere in the southern United States. The gist of the story is how Finch is able to open the eyes of his community just a bit to the injustices of prejudice and ignorance.

Then…somewhere in the middle of the story, Finch is driving his daughter, Scout downtown but suddenly stops on the road. A group of men have surrounded a dog, claiming it is rabid. They turn to Finch and ask, “What should we do?” Why do you suppose the author put this strange interruption in this story?
It’s not an interruption after all; it’s driving the point home. The rabid dog symbolizes the town’s bigotry, thereby causing a dangerous situation. Atticus Finch symbolizes justice and takes the appropriate action of putting down the dog, which simply points out that he was able to bring understanding to his hometown.


I tried to do the same thing with “The Pond.” Sprinkled throughout, you will see odd characters which seem to interrupt the action. Stop a moment and wonder if I am driving home a point.


Although “The Pond” is a thriller and “To Kill a Mockingbird” is a novel, this type of writing style works well in virtually any genre.

Be sure to order a copy of my book, The Pond and see what type of message YOU read into it.

Paperback of "The Pond" $16.95 Purchase at Amazon

Kindle Version of "The Pond" $2.99 Purchase at Amazon

Award Winning Author Tamera Lawrence Meets Ben Hanson from "The Show Fact or Fictional Parannormal Files"

I got my picture taken at the Pennhurst Haunt last night with Ben Hanson from the show Fact or Fiction Paranormal Files. He is part of the Ghost Hunter Halloween Special. They are having a live show tonight, starting at 7:00. this picture was taken on the 2nd floor of the Mayflower Building.

They were setting up for tonight's show.

Tamera Lawrence

You can watch Fact or Faked: Paranormal Files HERE

Happy Halloween from Award Winning Author Tamera Lawrence

Hope Everyone has a Fun and Safe Time on Halloween!

From Millan.Net

"Shannon Rose Manor" - The Mansion used in the Mystery Novel "The Pond"

The Shannon Rose Manor is where the Award Winning Mystery Novel "The Pond" was created.

"The Pond" is available in Paperback for $16.95   BUY HERE!

"The Pond" is available in Kindle Format for $2.99  BUY HERE!

If you are in the mood to read a Great  Mystery Novel, this one is for you!

I hope you enjoy.

Come and Follow me on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/The-Pond-by-Tamera-Lawrence/213548225358168

Ghost Writer Reviews The Award Winning Mystery Novel "THE POND"

Ghost Writer Reviews THE POND
Reader Rating: 5 Stars *****

"Enjoyable Read!" THE POND

Author: Tamera Lawrence

Since childhood, Mike Adams has had a guilty conscience about the accidental death of his best friend Carl. After arranging a play date with Carl at his home, Mike's family was called out of town due to a death in the family. The Adams' servant who answered the door sent young Carl away in the middle of a raging snow storm. Carl's mom dropped Carl off on her way to an appointment, and was not scheduled to return for several hours. Carl decides to walk home. Carl takes a short cut through Fanny's Farm.. Thinking that the pond was frozen solid Carl begins to cross the pond, and the semi-frozen pond cracks. Carl goes under and drowns. When the Adams family returns home, it several days before Mike learns of his buddy's death. Carl's death is not spoken of in the Adams' home and Mike's knowledge of what happened is limited to information garnered from conversations that overhears.

When Mike returns to the family mansion, with his own family, and begins asking questions, unexplained events begin to happen. After the occurrence of a number of inexplicable events, Mike begins to suspect that his elderly neighbors the Grays are connected to both Carl's drowning and the strange events occurring at his home.

"The Pond" is a rated PG tale of suspense. The lack of violence, explicit sex, and profanity makes "The Pond" an enjoyable read for young adults as well as mature adults. The paranormal ending was a surprising twist. Paranormal and Fantasy are very popular among young adult readers. The author maintains suspense throughout the story by slowly doling out information.

The Award Winning Novel "The Pond" is available in paperback for $16.95 BUY HERE! Or you can purchase in kindle format for $2.99  BUY HERE!

Did you know that you can send Kindle Formatted Books as gifts? Well, you can send as a gift to anyone that has an email account.

Do not have a Kindle, well, Amazon lets you download a free Kindle to use on you PC.

Award Winning Author Tamera Lawrence had something follow home from the Pennhurst Haunt, the Mayflower Building

It looks like a skull at the top of the flame.

Couple Call 911 After Getting Stuck In Corn Maze!

THE INQUISITR
Category: Odd + Funny
Author : James Johnson
Posted: October 12, 2011

A Massachusetts couple were forced to call 911 after they entered a corn maze just before sunset and were unable to exit the maze before darkness fell.

The couple entered the maze at Connors Farm just north of Boston with their infant and when the farm shut down and bugs descended the parents decided to call 911.

During the dispatch conversation the mom said:

“I’m stuck at Connors Farm. I’m really scared. It’s really dark and we’ve got a 3-week-old,” while adding, ”I don’t know what made us do this. Oh, my goodness. The mosquitoes are eating us alive, and I never took my daughter out, this is the first time. Never again. This is embarrassing.”


Her husband then chimed in by telling the dispatcher:

“I can see lights over there, but we can’t get there. We’re smack in the middle of the corn field.”


Thankfully the family was found quickly and removed from the 8-10 acres maze.

It should be noted that Connor Farms urges people to enter the maze no later than one hour before closing time and they explain that passing through the corn maze typically takes 45 minutes.


The design firm who created the maze for the farm says it’s the first time they have heard of police needing to rescue someone from inside a corn maze.


Personally I would find a night time corn maze to be far more fun than a daytime maze, then again I would be wearing insect repellent and wouldn’t have a 3-month-old child with me. Would you prefer a daytime or nighttime corn maze challenge?

A New Friend of Tamera Lawrence?

"Haunt World Photo"

A Double Edged Sword

Have you ever visited a friend or relative over a weekend or school break? I think most of us have and look back on the memories fondly. While the main character, Mike in “The Pond” wasn’t away from home during his childhood years, it seemed as if he was due to his parents’ absence from his day to day life. So, the appeal of having a farm next door and other children to play with after school was largely a type of vacation for Mike.

When I wrote about his childhood, it was interesting to combine two features of his life. One being, that he loved playing with his best friend and spending time on the farm next door with a couple that fostered several children, who became built-in playmates! The other side of it being that he was a very lonely little boy as his parents had careers and were scarcely at home. He came from a life of privilege which carried a double edged sword of being lonely.

While the twists and turns in “The Pond” reveal the vulnerability of his being alone, it also gave way to his appreciation and enjoyment of those moments that were supreme childhood joy.

Have YOU read “The Pond” yet? Pick up a copy HERE.

If you have read it, drop me a line or leave a comment and let me know your thoughts.

I love hearing from readers!

Available in Kindle Format for just $2.99 and you can purchase here!

Makes a perfect gift for Halloween!

The Imagination of a Writer By Tamera Lawrence

If you have ever wondered, writer’s brains seem to be wired just a bit differently than others. For example, I’ve had people ask me ‘How in the world do you write a book?’ It can be a bit intimidating, but once you allow your imagination to run free, it can be as simple as racing to get your thoughts on paper!

How do you think like a writer? I have a quick, easy test to determine the answer. Have you ever been driving (or riding) past a neighborhood and noticed some interesting homes? Some people may admire the design, structure or large backyard etc, while a writer may wonder who is inside this home? What is their life like? Are their children in the home? Are they happy? Sad? You get the idea. All of these elements are questions that can develop into a novel. Try it sometime! You may be writing your first novel without even realizing it!
 

I used this same approach when writing “The Pond.”

"The Pond" is available in Kindle Format for $2.99 and you can Purchase Here! 

"The Pond" is also available in Paperback for $16.95 and can be Purchased Here!

Book Review of "Grip: A Memoir of Fierce Attractions" By Author Nina Hamberg

Grip: A Memoir of Fierce Attractions (Paperback) $12.95 By Author Nina Hamberg

Reviewed By: Award Winning Author by Tamera Lawrence ("The Pond")

***** (5 out of 5 Stars) "Fantastic Read by a wonderful author!"  October 7, 2011

A typical girl, Nina Hamberg is caught between two parents who act more like children, then adults and later divorce. To make matters worse, Nina is ignored when she tells of a peeking tom looking through her bedroom window. Even the cops don't take her seriously. So when the stalker breaks in and attacks her, everyone acts surprised, even though the warning signs were already there but discounted. The attack leaves a stain in young Nina's heart as people around her avoid what happened, including her own father. As Nina grows, she tries to come to grips with what happened, but the effect of the attack is ever present. This becomes evident in her personal life as she seeks solace in the arms of abusers and rapists. Nina is petite, seemingly frail. But the gutsy woman trains in karate and faces down college professors and crude classmates to advocate for women's rights. Nina takes on violent youth in a group home, almost being raped in the process. Though life's knocks take their toll on Nina, she is a survivor. In the process Nina will find herself and the peace she longs for. She learns to forgive and in the forgiveness, learns to love herself just as she is.


GRIP is a wonderful memoir. Nina Hamberg is as honest as they come. She holds nothing back as she reveals the horrors in her life along with the triumphs. Not only was her book entertaining, but it reveals just how vulnerable human nature can be. I found the book refreshing and wonderfully written. I would highly recommend it and look forward to seeing more works from this wonderful author.

Where do you go when you Die?

When I was young, I was always told that when you die, there was a place in heaven for each of us if we were kind and generous to others.


It’s a nice thought and I’m one of many that believe in that concept. However, it does make you wonder once you pass on, where exactly do you go? Some people believe that once you expire, ashes to ashes, dust to dust. It’s just a matter of becoming part of the earth. I tend to think there is more to the other side. Why? It just seems that people who lapse into a clinical death will awaken again and describe such wonderful images and the relatives and friends that meet them. It sounds so wonderful. Yet, there are those who experience the same clinical death and tell horrifying experiences that makes me shudder. Why do different people see different things? Those types of questions won’t be answered until we experience it for ourselves.


Then, there is the occult side of things. That is what intrigues me as a writer. You are probably very familiar with this phenomenon. You know, the ghosts rattling chains in the attic and feeling the chill of a visitor from beyond as they hover around you. Writers are a strange lot at times…we are the ones that will drive by on a country road and see a cottage perched by a lake in the twilight and see a family inside, living their lives. What is the first thing a  does? They ask a question, “I wonder what they are talking about? What is their life like? Are they happy? Do they have secrets?”

Funny, that’s just how “The Pond” came to be.

In paperback for $16.95 and can be purchased HERE!

Also, available in kindle format for $2.99 and can be purchased HERE!

Do you think that this is Author Tamera E Lawrence's New Car!

Or is she just getting ready for Halloween?

Award Winning Author of "The Pond"

This time of year is perfect get yourself a copy of Mystery Novel  "The Pond"!

Paperback Edition: $16.95 and can be purchased HERE! 

Kindle Format is available for $2.99 and can be purchased HERE!

Enjoy!!!

Subliminal events that evoke feelings of "Hometown"

Summers always remind me of celebrations and gatherings especially when I was a kid. The frequency just seemed to naturally come in quick succession. There’s Mayday, the last day of school, summer camp, Fourth of July, country fairs and family vacations. All of these events make me think of warm weather and good times.

As I was writing “The Pond,” I wanted to build upon the idea of creating an ambiance that spoke to the memories of home that we all share. After all, if readers can’t relate to the subject of your story, then the story will be spoken but never heard. One of those memories for me was going to the fair each year. The whiff of cotton candy and candied apples while walking well-worn paths to the Ferris wheel and other rides all come flooding back to me. I am betting that you recall the same general memories too. Those types of memories are what help to shape a story like “The Pond.”

I’ll be writing more posts about “relate-able” events and memories because I think they are an important part in telling a story that has plotlines and situations that are horrifying. Most people don’t experience some of the events that Michael Adams and his family did in their new home. Tying the common thread among us helps to bring the reader along for the ride and experience a roller coaster of emotions.


Pick up a copy of my book, “The Pond,” now on sale at Amazon.com or Barnes and Noble. Also available on Kindle.

The roller coaster is ready and waiting for you.

"The Pond" is Available in Paperback for $16.95 and can be purchased here

"The Pond" is also available in Kindle Format for $2.99 and be purchased here. Did you know that you can give kindle formatted books as a gift? You can send as a gift to anyone that has an email address.

Do not have a kindle yet? You can download kindle to be used on your PC for free!

Award Winning Author Tamera is Now Doing Book Reviews

I will post reviews on Amazon and on my Blog!

For more information on how to obtain a book By Award Winning Author Tamera Lawrence

Contact Tamera at her email tlawr66@yahoo.com

PennHurst Haunted Asylum - Pennsylvania Haunted House

PennHurst, the legendary haunted hospital complex has opened its doors after 25 years and is accepting new patients! Pannhurst haunted asylum is Pennsylvania's newest and best destination haunted house! The fear is real at Pennhurst!

The Mayflower building is open this year - This building is said to be haunted. You will be given flashlights and go on a ghost hunt in the dark, spooky building. But be careful what you wish for. You might just find it!

Enter If you Dare!,

An Addition To Award Winning Author Tamera Lawrence's Familly - She is now a Grandmother!

My new granddaughter's name is Shyann. Her mother went into labor the day of the "earthquake" her water broke. Shyann was born 2 weeks early and then they had to stay in the hospital for an extra 2 days because of the hurricane. She was born August 24th and weighed 6' 2 oz. . I can't seem to put her down. :)

Shyann

Shyann



Meeting up with Childhood Friends

Everyone begins life as a child. There are key components of our personalities that have always been and there are traits we have acquired either through life experience or through the people we have known. The end result is a hodge-podge of qualities that one could never foresee and some that have been intact the moment we drew our first breath. All of these qualities are the ones that we have collected during childhood, teenage hood, and finally adulthood.

While it seems safe to wonder if some acquaintances have ever changed at all, these thoughts are only a portion of the emotions that one goes through when moving “back home.” Those childhood friends that were beloved and those who tormented us at the playground are now law-abiding, tax-paying neighbors, some with children of their own. Mike, the main character in “The Pond” finds himself going through these experiences and trying to make sense of his thoughts.
He struggles to find a glimpse or glimmer of recognition of the child he remembered going to school with and only finds a middle-aged man sitting in his dental chair feeling strangely vulnerable on many levels. The vulnerability may seem to be on a childlike level, but after moving the conversation from the school yard to the dental office, the tone and the conversation take on a darker hue.

The innocence of childhood may be buried at the bottom of that Pond.

Award Winning Author Tamera Lawrence

Award Winning Novel "The Pond" is available in Paperback Format at Amazon.com for $16.95 Purchase Here!
Award Winning Novel "The Pond" is available in Kindle Format at Amazon.com for $2.99 Purchase Here!

Also, available in Paperback Format at Barnes and Noble for $16.95 Purchase Here!

Fear of the Unknown

Have you ever noticed that sometimes the most frightening images is not so much the vision of someone with a gun or some other obvious threat? I find that it is the “subtle” nuances that can be more effective. For example, the movie “Silence of the Lambs” was particularly frightening because of Hannibal Lector. His calm, yet menacing communication style inflicted more terror for Clarice than if he were to hold her at gunpoint. Why? Because he is a sociopath and thinks much differently than a “normal” person. She can’t anticipate or prepare for his actions which leave her all the more vulnerable. And, sometimes that can be much more frightening than trying to escape or fight off an attacker.

When writing “The Pond” I tried to incorporate several fabrics of terror. Hearing things in the house that are unexplained, noises that are unexplained, friendly personalities of neighbors who present a secret dark side. The idea of unexplained, mysterious or the unknown can present more anxiety for people than expected results.

Then aside from danger situations involving people, there are the natural disasters or an act of God such as tornadoes, hurricanes, earthquakes or tsunamis. These come without warning and many times, can occur without people realizing just how close the danger is lurking. The usual exception are animals. I remember that I was working on "The Pond" and out of the corner of my eye, my dog woke out of a sound sleep and looked intently at the door. Her ears were perked and her nose was attempting to smell what was around the corner. As I watched her, I listened closely to my surroundings. I couldn't hear anything unusual. However, within 10 minutes, a nasty thunderstorm with dangerous lightening descended upon my area of town.

If I didn’t have my dog to alert me to a weather change, I would have been caught off guard. If I were the type of person to be afraid of lightening storms, I would have been terrified! The storm came quickly and made an impressive presence. And, somehow my dog was able to hear and or smell the unexpected. This is true of most animals; horses, cows, dogs, cats etc. are usually very sensitive to the unknown such as storms. They can also be sensitive to potential danger from people.

As a result of my experience with my dog, I wrote about animals and their “extra sensory perception” to danger(s). Be on the lookout for these animals in my book, “The Pond.”

Book Review of "The Pond" By Author Tamera Lawrence

ReviewBy Kelly Schuknecht "Vice President, Outskirts Press


This review is from: "The Pond" (Paperback)

Something strange is going on in the Adams' family home! Michael Adams and his wife and daughter move back to his childhood home - an old home in a rural area with odd neighbors across the street where a young boy had drowned many years ago.

Unexplainable things begin to happen around the house, such as a grandfather clock being overturned in a room by itself, objects getting broken or moved and strange appearances of frogs. Donna Adams finds herself investigating these occurrences to get to the bottom of what is happening to her family, and find out what really happened to Carl Weber that day.

"The Pond" is a suspenseful thriller, sure to keep you interested until the very end.

Order your copy today!

"The Pond"

Paperback or Kindle Format (Special Pricing of Kindle $2.99)

Requesting Atonement from the Dead

From the time we are children to the time that we are adults, the one constant is that people are born and people will eventually die. Whether they die from natural causes or from some other means, we will eventually come to know people that will die before us.


I’ve known some people that have had difficulty saying goodbye to those who have left this earth. Mostly because there may have been “unfinished business” between them. Did one of you forget to say, “I love you” or “I’m sorry?” Silent words and unfinished business can be very frustrating and painful for those who feel that premature death robbed them of a necessary moment.


In “The Pond,” the main character, Mike; has this nagging issue with a childhood friend who lost his life in the pond. No matter how long ago the accident occurred, the feeling and guilt never leaves because there was unfinished business in Mike’s mind.

Thus, the torment Mike felt as a child has grown with him to adulthood. Guilt never leaves until it is resolved. Haven’t you noticed that people will sometimes request atonement from those dearly departed? It’s a way of trying to finish the business and lighten the load of guilt upon one’s shoulders.


Be sure to pick up a copy of “The Pond.” You’ll see exactly what I mean.

"The Pond" is available in both Paperback and Kindle Version! (Special Kindle $2.99)

HOPE YOU AND ALL YOUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS HAD A HAPPY AND SAFE LABOR DAY

FROM AUTHOR TAMERA LAWRENCE  AND HER FAMILY

What comes to Mind?

They say that our senses such as sight, smell, touch and taste can evoke memories of our past. For example, what do you think of when you smell apple pie? Breathe in deeply and smell the cinnamon, nutmeg and Granny Smith apples. What feeling or memory does it conjure for you? When I think of homemade apple pie, I am immediately transported back to my childhood when my grandmother made them for me. So, I would have to say the smell of apple pie brings to me a comforting feeling; spending time with my grandmother and eating those delicious pies!


While the apple pie aroma reminded me of my grandmother, some might get the impression of a mother baking for her family or perhaps a friendly neighbor offering a pie to new neighbors. Any one of these thoughts that come to mind when we think of “apple pie.” There is also the automatic association as “American as Apple Pie.” I believe it is safe to say that all of these images provide the following thoughts of comfort, friendliness of a neighbor, family and security.


While I was writing “The Pond,” I decided to use this train of thought in the beginning of my book. The comfort of a childhood home, a friendly neighbor baking a pie to welcome a family to the neighborhood. I wanted to evoke an image that would make the reader automatically associate a definite perception of one of the characters. The idea would be to gravitate that character from a comforting and pleasant image to a dark personality.

A person who bakes a pie couldn't possibly have a hidden, dark personality yet to be seen; could they?


Get a copy of my book, “The Pond” (now out on Kindle! $2.99) and let me know what you think!

What do these two items have to do with each other?

I am afraid that you will have to read "The Pond" to find out.

Kindle $2.99 and can be purchased HERE

Start reading now!

Moving and the Affect on Children

Have you ever moved? Sure, at one point or another, we all move at least once or twice and for others, even more. For adults, it consists of wanting or needing to move. The usual tools of boxes, masking tape, box cutter,tissue and newspapers will be in your near future if you have made the decision to move. Whether it is across town or international; it can be a pain. There is packing, unpacking, learning our way in a new city and making new friends. It takes a bit of time to get acclimated and then moving becomes a distant memory.


What is it like for children? Leaving the only place they’ve ever known since coming into this world is incredibly difficult for them. The next bone of contention is leaving best friends, leaving their school and every other familiar place or person that they’ve grown accustomed to. Children who experiencing moving are also experiencing a major life change. It’s difficult because they have never experienced change before.

Change is associated with facing the unknown to a certain extent. The routine and consistency is now being changed. Children are creatures of habit. The trauma of moving is usually alleviated after they make new friends, become familiar with school and establish new routines. The fictional thriller, “The Pond” introduces the idea of leaving a childhood home. Not only leaving that home, but leaving unfinished business of mourning a best friend. This “unfinished business” picks up right where it left off when the child returns as an adult with his own family to live in his childhood home. The premise of this idea came to me and I found it an interesting idea to explore. Be sure to pick up my book, “The Pond” to read more about moving back to a childhood home.

"The Pond" is available in paperback at amazon.com

Kindle Version of "The Pond" is at a special price of $2.99 and can be purchased HERE

What was the best time in your Childhood?

I remember when I was growing up; I would spend my summers with my best friend in the country. It seemed that my own life, worries and other cares were miles away. The days began early with a big breakfast and then outdoors until dusk. There were so many things to do and places to go explore.
Chores that my friend considered to be mundane were new and exciting to me. I learned how to milk a cow, brush down a horse and ride bareback. After a full day of morning chores, riding horses and swimming in a creek, the days flew like wildfire. It was this exhilaration of experiencing new things and carefree days that prompted me to write about it in “The Pond.” I still remember those days, even now. And, I’m betting that you remember them as well. They were the best, weren’t they?

Kindle Version $2.99 Purchase Here - If you are a mystery lover this book is one for you. Or send as a gift!

Guilt

Definition: (noun) A term denoting an unpleasant feeling associated with blame; bad conscience over responsibility.

Such a simple term and definition that affects countless people all over the world. While guilt is a horrible feeling and it often makes a great plot line in a novel! In my book, The Pond; you will find a boy who friend drowns in a pond. An unfortunate, terrible thing for a child to die. Not long after the event, the boy and his family move out of town. Twenty-five years later, the boy has become a man and moves back to his childhood home with his family. Being in the setting of his childhood causes him to ponder about his friend’s death. What exactly happened? How did it happen? Could he have done anything to prevent it? See? Guilt subtly sneaks in as an underlying, yet prominent theme.


Guilt has the power and strength to invade most anyone with an Achilles heel. The slightest bit of vulnerability in our psyche provides a perfect and shortest path to feelings of guilt. Often times, feelings need to be explained or described. I am willing to bet that everyone has felt the pangs of guilt at least once in their life. And, the feelings were so overwhelmingly unpleasant, that no one wants to experience it again. In fact, anyone else that is suffering from guilt is often pitied by others.

Interestingly enough, the main character’s guilt is suddenly causing things to go bump in the night. Pick up a copy of my book, The Pond and rediscover guilt and fear.