Thriller Thursday Guest — Author Tamera Lawrence

Today’s guest is Mystery Author Tamera Lawrence. If you love mysteries with a paranormal flair, then keep the lights on with The Pond. Trust me you won’t look at dark closets and homemade pies in the same way.

By Author Jennifer Chase
http://authorjenniferchase.com/2012/05/24/thriller-thursday-guest-author-tamera-lawrence/

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Book Synopsis:

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


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 family delves deeper into the past, the future becomes more perilous with every passing discovery.
Book purchase link: THE POND

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Jennifer Chase: If your main character was trapped in an elevator with three other people, how would your hero devise a plan to escape? Would they take any of the people with them?

Tamera Lawrence: Mike, the main character in this book, would never leave anyone behind. He would use every means necessary to make sure everyone was safe – even putting his own safety above others.

Jennifer Chase: How do you get inside your main character’s head when writing?

Tamera Lawrence: I allow the main character to rein in my thoughts sometimes for days or weeks seeing life and decisions through their eyes. I try to distance my own personal feelings and bring about my character’s unique personal traits to life.

Jennifer Chase: What’s your specific genre? If you could write in any other genre, what would it be and why?

Tamera Lawrence: I have always had a flair for writing paranormal or thrillers. When I first started writing, Romance was my first ambition. I have learned to interweave both elements to satisfy my personal tastes.

Jennifer Chase: Why should readers pick up The Pond?

Tamera Lawrence: If you like paranormal mysteries, THE POND should satisfy your appetite. It has a ghostly element and just the right amount of mystery added to the mix. I like making people squirm.

Jennifer Chase: What types of emotions will readers experience when they read your book?

Tamera Lawrence: Hopefully, anyone who reads THE POND will turn the lights up a little bit brighter…perhaps wonder more about their strange neighbors.

Jennifer Chase: Now, it’s time to play word association with your main character. Please respond with one word that comes to mind (in your main character’s voice) to the words listed below.

Tamera Lawrence:

Plot: murder

2012: Hope

Predator: Charlie

Giggles: Mikey

Rural: farm

Omnipresence: God

Thank you Author Tamera Lawrence!

Author Bio:

With a passion for writing, Award winning author Tamera Lawrence likes to entertain readers with edgy thrillers and mysteries mixed with romance. As a mother of six, Tamera draws on personal experiences to bring to life interesting characters set in today’s complex world. She loves meeting fans and writes book reviews upon request. Tamera also likes to play softball and clang out a tune or two on the piano.


Where you can find out more about Author Tamera Lawrence:

Blog:

Twitter:

Did you know that you do not have to own a Kindle Machine to read a book in Kindle Format"?

Well, it is true and so simple to load to any of  the various Amazon's Free Kindle Readers that they have available.

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After you have loaded your free Kindle Reader, why not download a copy of "The Pond" by Author Tamera Lawrence for $2.99 PURCHASE HERE!

"The Pond" is also available in Paperback for $16.95 and be PURCHASED HERE!

You can also send a Kindle Formatted Book as a gift to anyone that has an email addrress!

See you learn something new everyday!

Enjoyable Read! "The Pond" by Award Winning Author Tamera Lawrence

"The Pond"

"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 Pond" available in Paperback Here and also available in Kindle Format for $2.99 Here!

Do you wait for your child to get inside the house of a friend?

Eight year old Carl was in the car with his mom on the way to visit his friend Mike. Carl enjoyed being in the company of Mike and at times that is all he would talk about. Mike this and Mike that was all his mother would hear.

Carl's mom was in a hurry for a Dr appointment and did not want to be late, so when she reached the house where Mike lived, she let Carl out of the car and told him to mind his manners and behave himself. I will be back about 6:30 to pick you up the mom stated and closed the door. In a hurry, she left Carl to knock on the door of his friend and before she could see if Carl entered the house of his friend, she left the area and headed off to her Dr appointment.

Was this the right thing for the mom to do? Did Carl get into his friends' house safely? Was anyone home at his friends' house? To find out the answers to these questions and to find out what happened to Carl you will need to read the award wining Novel "The Pond" by Author Tamera E Lawrence.

"The Pond" is available at Amazon.com in paperbook format for the price of  $16.95. Also available in Kindle Format for the price of $2.99.

"The Pond" can also be purchased at Barnesandnoble.com in paperback format for $16.95.

"Wrecker"

In the shadow of the day, the tow man hides but at night he stalks his victims in his wrecker of death...

"Wrecker" coming soon.........................keep checking back for more updates........

#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

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!

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!

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!

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.”

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)

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 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.

Things that go BUMP in the night (or day)

Do you remember the first time you spent the night alone? Perhaps it was in a big home or maybe an apartment. Were you scared? I think everyone has an unsettling feeling when they know they are alone. Suddenly, it’s as if you can hear every creak and groan of the home settling and the wind sounds a bit more mysterious.


I have a friend that recently did some house-sitting for her boss while she was out of town. She called me and we chatted on the phone for awhile and then she decided to call it a night. She began turning out the various lamps and lights on her way out of the room and made her way up the stairs to the guest bedroom.

Just as she was turning the corner at the top of the stairs, she got the distinct feeling that someone was right behind her. Have you ever had that feeling? I know I have. But, I’m not sure what causes it. Is it fear? Is it the ghost of your Aunt Mattie from the past paying a visit? In any event, I know this feeling well.

When I was writing “The Pond,” I wondered what would happen if we could easily communicate with the dearly departed. Especially if it involved unresolved feelings or emotions. The idea was intriguing to me. Would the dearly departed be forgiving? Or, do they hold a grudge?

I guess it depends on what really happened. I wonder if the main character, Mike remembers the entire accident of his best friend? It might be why things go bump in the night…or day.

Purchase "The Pond" Paperbook Edition for $16.95 HERE or the Kindle Version at $2.99 HERE!

Do not have a Kindle? You can download Kindle for free to your PC.

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 and Kindle Formats at Amazon.com

Also, Be Sure to Follow "The Pond" on our Facebook page.

Thalassophobia - Fear of Ponds

Have you ever experienced a phobia? If you have, you know that it is a very unnerving experience and can be quite frightening. There are all types of phobias and they can be developed at any age, although most are due to a traumatic event in childhood. I’m sure we’ve all experienced some form of phobia; to name a few:

• Fear of flying
• Fear of the number 13
• Fear of elevators
• Fear of closed in places
• Fear of heights and finally;
• Fear of large bodies of water such as oceans, lakes and ponds.


Are there any remedies for these phobias? The best medicine is psychotherapy, hypnotherapy, or counseling.


Oh, another remedy might be to move yourself and family back to your childhood home and find out how and why your best friend died in that pond.




Now available on Kindle: CLICK HERE for $2.99

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.[1]

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!


[1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panic_attack

The Art of Raising Foster Children

When a couple agrees to be foster parents, what exactly should they expect? Certainly, it’s not quite the same as rearing your own children through day to day childhood experiences. The known fact is that fostering is temporary. So, how do foster parents treat these children? As if they are their own? Or, do they step back and parent with detached emotion? I believe the first idea is the desired result.
In the story of “The Pond,” the sweet, next door neighbors, who take this responsibility on, come up with ideas to occupy these children. These foster parents who are firmly rooted in their community and moral values could not have come at a better time for these children in need. As we know, it is difficult to place foster children in homes such as these. And, to hope for parents who are patient, loving and provide the guidance that is so needed in their lives is just a dream come true.


Any case manager stopping by to observe the home, parents and children surely would give extremely high marks. It’s all what we hope for…but is it what the children actually get?


You’ll never view neighbors the same way again. That’s a promise.

The Pond available at Amazon.com and BarnesandNoble.com

Available in Kindle Format for $2.99 and you can PURCHASE HERE!

Dentistry and the Vulnerability of being the Patient

As I was plotting and planning the characters and plot of “The Pond,” I began to wonder about what vocation Mike Adams, the main character would have.

Taking into account that his family was well-to-do when he was growing up, I considered the usual employment ideas; doctor, lawyer, stockbroker, entrepreneur etc. Then I began to wonder about what some consider to be a step below a doctor, either a dentist or a chiropractor.

For some reason, dentistry provides interesting character development. Consider the number of people who have dental phobias and movies that have perpetuated that fear even further by creating films like Marathon Man. Watching Dustin Hoffman’s character is particularly horrifying as he is tortured with dental procedures.
While I didn’t push the envelope to that extreme, I did plant the suggestion by having Adams be a dentist. And, surprise! One day, he is paid a visit by long lost childhood friend, Bill Simpson. Discussions of the past and certain neighbors cause Simpson to feel vulnerable as “Little Mikey Adams is messing with his teeth.”

Some fears are never outgrown. They simply intensify with age.

"The Pond" is available in Paperback for $16.95 and can be PURCHASED HERE

"The Pond" is available in Kindle Format for $2.95 and can be PURCHASED HERE