Paranormal Mystery Excerpt and #Giveaway With Shah Wharton

Shah first published Finding Esta, book one of her paranormal mystery series, back in December 2012. Since then, she has continuously revised it as she improves her craft. Most recently, it has even changed enough to warrant a second edition. These changes include one whole new chapter and lots of polish.

Read my review of Finding Esta here. 

The giveaway begins Feb 1st 2014 and runs till 31st March 2014 - that's two months - and offers TEN winners one e-copy of this new edition. :) Here's the new cover for the e-books...


2nd Ed. Published Jan. 2014 (Includes another chapter and lots more polish!)

BOOK DESCRIPTION

Do you love your mystery to have a paranormal theme? Do you enjoy characters who evolve, but come with cracks? Do you love urban fantasy with soul? Read on...

"Finding Esta" is the tumultuous tale of one extraordinary woman's journey of self-discovery within a Cornish supernatural underworld.

Numerous psychic flaws have always cursed Luna, a fledgling journalist. She desired validation from cruel parents, and intimacy without physical pain or mental anguish. But she is denied both. Luna has friends: Flo and Ada. Unfortunately, they have one incredible thing in common: They're both dead.

Flo lives in Luna's mind, like house-share. But Ada prefers to kick dark Shadow booty in the Shadow Lands, like some kind of super-granny.

When Luna investigates baby-Esta's abduction, it leads her to a Cornish supernatural community, she loses contact with life-long Shadow friends, and soon enough, her fragile sense of identity implodes, as each incredible revelation steers her to a singularly mind-blowing question:

˃˃˃ "What am I?"

Twenty-three years left in tatters at her feet, Luna's mind fractures beneath the weight of grief and lies, all obscured by an innate suspicion of everyone and everything.

Is Luna being called by fate, by the power of the moon, by an alien species, and by a vampire who visits her dreams, to begin her destiny as defeater of evil; the hybrid liberator of all Supes? Will Luna ever find her Shadow friends again? Will she possess strength enough to deal with unearthly creatures, chronic indecision, and a growing dissociation with everything she once believed? And in the end, will she find poor Esta, or live long enough to tell her story?

The answers to these questions are not what you might think!

SOME REVIEWER THOUGHTS

"The true source of her empathy is mind-blowing." By Book Reviewer: Wandalyn Thomas

"It's a great tale that's part Nancy Drew, part Harry Dresden, and part Underworld, with a dash of Weapon X thrown in for good measure." By Author: Tom Winship

"Be ready for things you will not expect." By Kathryn Bennett for Readers' Favorite

"Finding Esta is an urban fantasy tale with a riveting plot that hooked me from the very first page. It is the firs installment of Shah Wharton's Supes series and cleverly weaves both mystery novel and supernatural tale together. By Valerie S. Fowler: Book Reviewer

"Can't wait for the next one. Truly amazing story best book I've read in a long time I hope the next one comes soon." By Wrainbeau: Book Reviewer

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"Will finding Esta be the beginning of Luna's

journey, or the end?"

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Here's the new cover for the print edition...

PRINT COVER

BUY FINDING ESTA

eBook Edition

Amazon.com | Amazon.co.uk and internationally.

Barnes & Noble | KOBO | Sony| iBOOKS SMASHWORDS

Print Edition

Amazon | Amazon France | Amazon Germany | Amazon Italy |

Amazon Spain | Amazon United Kingdom

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*This second edition (Jan 2014)

brings a new chapter and lots of polish.

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FIND SHAH HERE

WEBSITE/BLOG

Amazon Author Page (US) | Amazon Author Page (UK) | Goodreads | Facebook | Twitter | Google+

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EXTENDED EXCERPT

First three chapters of Finding Esta

Unfortunately, this didn't come out great on this blog, so alternatively, you can go to
http://shahwharton.com/2014/02/the-second-edition-tour-is-off-amreading-paranormalmystery-urbanfantasy/

The Giveaway: Ten FREE E-Copies of Ed.2 of Finding Esta.

Giveaway runs till 31st March 2014.

'Finding Esta,' An Urban Fantasy Mystery by Shah Wharton @shahw1

Finding Esta by Shah Wharton



My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Before I read Shah Wharton's debut novel, I'd read a few of her short stories, so I knew she was a talented storyteller. From the beginning of 'Finding Esta,' I sympathized with Luna, the heroine. Luna's a sickly early-20-something with numerous allergies, including allergies to the sun. She can't touch anything without gloves because it's so painful. Her mother and stepfather treat her awfully, not understanding her special gifts.

Luna hears the spirits of the dead in her head, sees ghosts and auras, and knows the history of every object she touches. Nicknamed "Rat," Luna has one bright spot in her life, her job as a journalist in the little village of Snape. Her job causes her to go off in search of a mystery: the disappearance of baby Esta from a burned-out house in Cornwall.

What Esta discovers in that house in Cornwall turns her world upside-down.

One of the possibly covers Shah considered before choosing the final one

Wharton weaves a compelling story that hovers between reality and unreality, repeatedly lulling the reader with a set of assumptions that turn out to be completely false. Parts of Luna's journey reminded me of Dark Lover, the first book in J.R. Ward's shockingly addictive Black Dagger Brotherhood series. Other parts are vaguely reminiscent of other urban fantasy narratives, yet the whole is refreshingly original. It reads like a really good mystery; we find out what becomes of Esta, but only after an extended and fascinating red herring. Luna Dukes isn't like any other paranormal heroine I've ever read, and there are some really fun tweaks to the usual paranormal mythology.

Although two candidates for Luna's love interest appear in this novel, they never compete against one another, and Luna keeps a level head when it comes to her budding passions, even when surrounded by chaos. She's so sensible when it comes to attraction to the opposite sex - it's a refreshing change. Paranormal romance is my favorite genre, but I'll have to wait till at least the second book to see if Luna finds a partner who accepts her on her own terms. If you're not into romances, don't worry - it isn't the main focus of the novel.

Read Shah Wharton's short story "The Journal of Rosa and Bella" here

View all my reviews on Goodreads



I "purchased" this book from Smashwords on a day when the book was offered at no cost. This review was not solicited by the author or her representatives in any way, and I received no compensation for it.

WIP Wednesday with Shah Wharton

This is the WIP Wednesday deal. Authors needed - all genres! Are you an author who'd like to share a 100- to 200-word blurb about a current work in progress on a future WIP Wednesday? If so, please send an e-mail to Erin O'Riordan (erinoriordan AT sbcglobal DOT net).   

Shah Wharton: Firstly, I’d like to thank Erin for having me on her blog to talk about my W.I.P. I started writing a short story spring 2009; one of my first in fact. It turned into the first book of a series.  Some would say I’m mad for trying to publish my first novel, but when that it also the first of a series, well I prefer not to think what folks would say.

To say I’m nervous is an understatement of great proportions. But if I’m going to do it, best get it done as best expertly as possible and prepare myself for the fall-out.  I’ve had the cover done professionally by Derek Murphy at CreativIndieCovers and the book will by rigorously edited by AubrieAnne at Who’s Your Editor? That is after many beta readers work their magic, pointing out all the obvious and more besides.

Hopefully, the awful bits will be removed by then. J

Finding Esta is a paranormal, urban fantasy

and full-length novel –

The first of The Supes Series.

I plan to publish it October 2012 (so help me God!)

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Book Blurb:

  

An unusual young woman and fledgling journalist, Luna has various restrictive and annoying oddities, all of which have prevented any kind of physical intimacy during her 23 years. In her dreams a dark stranger visits her, and in lieu of the real thing their intimacy excites her. During those moments, nestled within his presence, she senses an urgent message is the reason for his visits to her subconscious. A message she cannot interpret, regardless of his persistent efforts.

Her abusive parents remain blissfully unaware of Luna’s Shadow’s, but are all too aware of other issues with touch and sunlight, reveling in her isolated misery and physical pain. Still, Luna hopes to one day make them proud, hoping this will take her closer to being worthy of their elusive love. Something she craves almost as much as the painless touch of a lover.

When Luna learns of a tragic story involving the kidnap of baby Esta, she jumps at the chance to investigate. She hopes finding Esta and closing this cold case will finally earn her parents’ admiration, and love.

Of course, it doesn’t quite go to plan. The loitering stranger from her dreams now stalks her during daylight. How can this be? And will he ever be more than a figure in the shadows, always just out of reach?

Her investigation leads Luna to St Ives, Cornwall: a vibrant seaside town hiding copycat aliens and an underworld of Supernaturals. Here, she comes face-to-face with her own, terrifying identity. Confronted with life-changing decisions and the harshest of truths, Luna confronts insanity with logic, only to fight against both. Will Luna ever find the path to all that she desires?

More significantly, is she trapped in a newfound supernatural world, or within her own delusions? And will anyone care enough to save her?

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Mini-Bio and Contact Details

My Details
Author Site: http://shahwharton.com/

Email: contact form.

Face Book Page - https://www.facebook.com/findingesta/app_106171216118819

Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/shahw1

Google + https://plus.google.com/u/0/105777291855668712953

Finding Esta page: http://shahwharton.com/my-writing/the-supes-series

A Mini Bio

Shah began meeting authors and book-worms galore when she started blogging less than three years ago. She’s learned a lot on her adventure, mostly from the awesome advice of her online peer-group.

Soon, she began using her imagination to write short stories as well as the poetry she’d always written. Soon after, one short story grew into Finding Esta, the beginning of Luna’s journey to self discovery.

Her passions include blogging, writing, reading, movies, photography and picture enhancement, music, theatre, travel, and fine dining. Her qualifications include BSc(Hons) psychology, counselling, mentoring.

She has one short story published & two poems published in anthologies, and plans to publish her first novel: Finding Esta – Book 1 of the Supes Series, in October 2012. The second in the Supes Series, she wrote during her first NaNoWrimo 2011 and will be published 2013.

Her favourite genres include anything dark with fangs and/or that will make her squirm or jump or scream out an expletive.  She is an avid Kindle abuser and adores the indie writing community and being part of the e-publishing revolution.