Who is Cecelia “Celie” Moore?

Cecelia “Celie” Moore is an everywoman. She is quirky, fun, sarcastic, cute, and capable of bravery at the darkest moments. She is the antithesis of the typical heroine in appearance but her abilities throughout the book make her someone to reckon with.

Here is a sample from the book:

“I crawled back onto the couch and sat wrapped up in my soft green IKEA throw, my long auburn hair draped around me. Closing my eyes, I inhaled the lingering scent of dragon’s blood incense I had lit hours ago and then slowly exhaled. I didn’t know exactly how to meditate, but I had the gist of it and thought I would give it a shot. After some deep breathing, I tried to feel the energy of the earth flowing into my root chakra and my stress flowing up and out of my crown chakra. Breathe in, breathe out. Breathe in, breathe out. I did this for 5 or 10 minutes, waiting for my anxieties to leave me and for answers to come flooding in. Eventually the only thing that had left me was the feeling in my left foot. I wound up stomping around the living room, trying to get the feeling back while looking like a dancing Neanderthal.”

Celie has dark green eyes, long auburn hair, pale skin, and a button nose; just an innocent face. Did I base her off of myself? Maybe some of her traits, but I wanted you to envision her in your own way.

Her family history is muddy, with deep secrets that even she is unaware of. She also has psychic abilities, ones that lend themselves to the story in unexpected ways. Love her or hate her, she is the protagonist of the story, and I am incredibly proud of her story arc.

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Who is Michael Hawkins?

Michael is a nearly 300-year-old vampire. That’s the simple answer. But in all honesty, he’s so much more than that. A lover, a fighter, a swordsman, a runner, a soldier: the list of attributes for him is extensive. It would be a disservice to him to call him just a ‘vampire’ and nothing more. The book explores his past, his doubts, his fears, and his ability to love and protect the woman he has fallen for. 

Physically speaking, this is how Michael appears to our main character: “He was a man. Emphasis on the ‘man’ part. Not a boy or a guy, but a tall, perfectly proportioned MAN. He looked to be at least six foot four, broad shoulders under the jacket of his suit, his stance casual, and perhaps my age? Early thirties? His long, straight hair was the color of fresh coffee, and it was pulled back in a ponytail secured with a strand of leather. His eyes were bright grey, like silver, and his face was both strong and soft in all the right places. I stared with my mouth watering at this incredible specimen of masculinity, feeling immensely insecure and aroused all at the same time…” 

I was intentionally ambiguous about his ethnicity or skin color to avoid isolating anyone from finding this man attractive. I want everyone to see him with their own eyes, with their own pre-conceived notions about what a vampire should look like. I only provided some subtle attributes to encourage the reader to view some of the man I had envisioned Michael to be.

How do you see Michael? Are you able to picture him? 

Let’s go Beyond the Shadows…

Beyond the Shadows is a book that was written after over a decade of work. I began writing it in 2008 and only finished/published it in 2021. Whew! That’s a long time to be working on one story!

Needless to say, it’s a work of love. I’ve never been so dedicated to anything in my whole life (other than my husband, but that’s a given, right?).

Here’s what you need to know:

Demons, Vampires, and a Cult: Everyone wanted Michael’s blood, but only one woman could claim it. Cecelia “Celie” Moore was a normal girl and a stranger to Michael Hawkins when he first encountered her, but that quickly changed after he entered her dreams. Michael is a vampire, and he had fallen in love with Celie from afar. Now a cult leader wanted to use that love as bait to obtain Michael’s blood for his own nefarious purposes. Michael would do anything to protect the woman he loves, and it is that protectiveness that brings the two lovers together.

Through uncommon trials, they will face their demons – both real and imagined. Through their love, they will each face their doubts and their pasts. Through their determination, they will face down the evil lurking just beyond the shadows…

Interested? You can read a copy on Amazon (Kindle or Print), Apple Books, Barnes and Noble, and many more! Below are some links to where you can get your copy:

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