Saturday, September 27, 2014

YA Horror/Paranormal Romance Author Catrina Burgess

::: Giveaway – I’m giving away to one winner a package with some of my favorite chocolate, cookies and tea. How do you enter to win? Comment below. Tell me what is your favorite paranormal element? Do you love vampires, werewolves, zombies, ghosts, magic?:::


I’ve always adored ghost stories. I devoured all the spook filled stories I could find as a little kid. Over the years I’ve never gotten tired of reading books or watching shows about the paranormal. When I started working on the Dark Ritual Series, of course I took my love of all things paranormal and created a world full of dark magic. In that world is Colina Campbell. She is a girl who is trying to find her way. She is trying to survive against incredible odds and to do so she has to turn her back on everything she believes. Everything her people have taught her. I love working on the Dark Ritual Series and I can’t wait to finish Book 4 so I can share with everyone what happens next in Colina’s adventures.



Awakening is a YA Horror/Paranormal. There's a romance, some ghosts and a zombie or two.

Seventeen year old Colina is desperate to become a Death Dealer. It’s the only way for her to survive, and get the revenge she seeks. But, to become a Death Dealer she will have to court death itself, suffer the possession of another, and if she makes it to the third ritual, she'll have to do the unthinkable. Can she survive the horrific trials long enough to gain the dark power? And if she does, what will she become?

Her guide on this journey is Luke, a seventeen year old Death Dealer who reluctantly takes on the task of training her. But the more time he spends with Colina, the more he worries about her safety, because he’s falling hard for a girl with too many secrets.

Read The Dark Rituals series on Wattpad. http://www.wattpad.com/user/catrinaburgess

Awakening – Book 1
Possession – Book 2
Revenant – Book 3
And Legion – Book 4 coming this winter

Read An Excerpt:
I reached out, grabbing for anything, but there was only empty space. I fell a long way before slamming hard against the surface of…water? I plunged down into cold, wet darkness. The shock of the cold forced the oxygen from my lungs. My head went under, and my momentum carried me down. I kicked my feet, my lungs near bursting for air. I struggled to go up, to break the surface. When I didn’t think I could survive a moment longer, I found myself bobbing above the water’s surface. I could breathe again. I sucked in oxygen, sweet oxygen and frantically moved my arms, trying to stay afloat. I did my best to swim as my clothes, heavy with water, pulled me back down.
I looked up and saw lightning zigzagging across the sky. How far had I fallen? Ten feet? Twelve feet? I kicked forward, reached out, and made contact with smooth stone. My fingers followed the stone around. A perfect circle--I had fallen into a well. I looked up at the sky again as I brushed against the smooth rock. There were no handholds. No way to climb up and out. The water was cold. A chill seeped into my bones, and I began to shiver. I forced down the panic and tried to stay calm.
And I realized I wasn’t alone.
An unnatural chill ran down the back of my neck. A breeze moved past me, and I had the sense that whatever hovered near me wasn’t of this world.
I heard a whisper. My ears strained to make out the words, but there were none, at least none I could decipher. More noises that didn’t sound human. Then a growl to my right.
I spun around in the water. “Who are you?” My words were forced out between chattering teeth.
Another growl, this one louder and closer.
“What do you want?” Desperately, I tread water, trying to keep my head above the surface.
You” echoed in the darkness, and as it rang out, something grabbed my foot and yanked me under.
I kicked hard, forcing myself back up. I broke the surface and sucked in a mouthful of air only to be pulled under again. Whatever had me was strong. I kicked and struggled, frantic to break free from its grip. I couldn’t breathe. I did a couple of hard scissor kicks and for a moment my head bobbed above the water again. I sucked in another lungful of air before it dragged me under.

About Catrina Burgess:
I write because it helps keeps the darkness away and reminds me there is magic in the world. I live in a small mining town in Arizona. The place at night is definitely spooky. I swear I've heard the wind giggle and sometimes there's a very odd breeze that blows at night. There's something unnatural about it--it's truly spooky and sends shivers down your spine. I love all things that go bump in the night. I adore old movies.I’m a huge Joss Whedon fan. When I grow up I want to be a super hero. I want a cool red and black costume and I want some rockin' powers. I've been known to eat pizza and cold Chinese food for breakfast and I’m the queen of the board game Stratego. I’ve never been beaten. NEVER! ;-)

GIVEAWAY QUESTION: Tell me what is your favorite paranormal element? Do you love vampires, werewolves, zombies, ghosts, magic?

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7 comments:

Sarah Raplee said...

Thank you for Guesting at Romancing the Genres, Catrina!

The Dark Rituals Series sounds intriguing. Horror and Romance work well together in that love is often the only thing that gets people through when horrible things happen. Hardship brings out people's true character as opposed to the masks they show to the world. Mixing in Paranormal elements reminds people there is more to life than this material world.

As for your question, I love characters with 'abilities', ghosts and shapeshifters, and the odd zombie!

Diana McCollum said...

Loved your post! And the book excerpt was "chilling" to say the least. I like most paranormal stories. I don't care for zombies. My favorite is witches and magic in our contemporary world. I wouldn't say no to reading about vampire hero's or ghosts.

Rosalie Redd said...

Hi Catrina,
The Dark Ritual Series looks interesting and scary. I can't imagine being trapped in a well. I love paranormal romance. I like vampires and werewolves, but also other creatures of the night, anything unusual who can shape shift.

Amber Polo said...

I love shifters. The qualities of human/animal forms of shifters is always fascinating. And the how of the shifting never gets old.

Sierra albin said...

My favorite is ghost and magic, the fact that your novel mixes magic with ghost makes it one of my favorite novels. Honestly if you ever sold a hard copy I would buy all four to go in my library!

Judith Ashley said...

Hi Cat,

Thanks for guesting with us at RTG! Looks like you live in the right place and are surrounded by the ambiance that gives your stories that extra shiver of dread.

I love stories that showcase natural magic...tuning in to the energies and whispers that are there if we only stop and listen.

Catrina burgess said...

Sarah – Thanks for having me! I agree that romance and horror work together. When terrible things happen you need to lean on the people you love for support and help. And I have to admit my characters go through a lot of ‘trial by fire’ in my books. ;-)

Diana – I’m honestly really freaked out by zombies. Tidal waves, spiders and zombies—things that make Cat go …UGH! But somehow some zombies creeped into my story. Mostly it’s about magic. ;-)

Rosalie – Trapped in a well or spending the night in a cemetery. Both give me the shudders. ;-)

Amber – got to love those shifters!

Sierra – I’m so glad you like my novels! Can you imagine if they were even in hardback. I would be doing the snoopy dance everywhere I went for a solid year. Hehehe

Judith – “tuning in to the energies and whispers that are there if we only stop and listen.” I love that! Thanks for having me!

I’m sorry I didn’t stop by sooner but I’ve been sick on this end.

Now I promised a giveaway….and I’m going to pick a random number from everyone that posted…drum roll and the winner is Amber. Congrats! If you send me an email at cat@catrinaburgess.com with your snail mail addy I will send some yummies your way! ;-)

Thanks again for having me! And I hope everyone has a spooktacular Halloween! October is my favorite month. Bring on the ghosties and the ghoul! ;-)