Carmen Stefanescu resides in Romania, the native country of
the infamous vampire Count Dracula, but where, for about 50 years of communist
dictatorship, just speaking about God, faith, reincarnation or paranormal
phenomena could have led someone to great trouble – the psychiatric hospital if
not to prison.
High school teacher of English and German in her native
country, and mother of two daughters, Carmen Stefanescu survived the grim years
of oppression by escaping in a parallel world of books.
Several of her poems were successfully published in a
collection of Contemporary English Poems, Muse Whispers vol.1 and Muse Whispers
vol.2 by Midnight Edition Publication, in 2001 and 2002.
Her first novel, Shadows of the Past, was released in 2012
by Wild Child Publishing, USA.
Carmen joined the volunteer staff at Marketing For Romance
Writers Author blog and is the coordinator of #Thursday13 posts.
Barbara Heyer can hear voices of dead people. They whisper of their deaths, seek comfort for those left behind, and occasionally even warn her about future events. But when Barbara’s brother, Colin, is accused of murder, it will take more than her gift to prove his innocence.
Becoming smitten with the handsome investigator, Detective Patrick Fischer, is a serious complication given his assignment to her brother’s case. Barbara senses there is something far deeper—and perhaps much older—than the surface attraction between them. Could that be why she’s visited by a mysterious woman named Emma in her dreams? Could past life regression tie all the seemingly unconnected events together?
Barbara and Patrick must overcome heartache to find the truth to save Colin, and perhaps themselves.
Welcome to Romance
Lives Forever! We’re happy to have you here today.
Name: Barbara Heyer
Age: 24
Gender: Female
Birthplace:
Pleasanton, Texas, USA
Profession:
Librarian
Describe your
body and build, skin tone, height and weight. Include any unique features such
as dimples, freckles, or scars.
I am a petite
brunette, as Colin, my brother calls me. My hair is curled driving me crazy
when I have to comb it in the morning.
Who is the
significant other in your life?
After my brother
was charged with murdering his girlfriend Kathleen, I fell in love with
Patrick, the detective assigned to his case. Not an easy situation, trust me.
Please tell us a
little about yourself.
I love to read and
that’s why I love my job as librarian. I am skilled with a paintbrush and colors.
Above all, I can hear voices of the dead people. It is nice to know I can bring
comfort to bereaved families, and also open their eyes to something as natural
as the living world of the spirits.
Please tell us
about your education.
I graduated a nurse
course and a librarian one. I work at the Municipal City Library. I am pleased
with my workplace as I love books and, each morning, going to my job I feel
happy.
Do you get by,
live comfortably, live extravagantly?
Even if I work part
time, I earn some good money from the miniature landscapes I paint. And even
from talking with the ghosts, the souls of the departed. I don’t charge
anything for this but people offer me all kind of things as a sign of their
appreciation – a box of chocolates, perfumes, tickets and invitations to shows,
flowers, books, all kind of presents that are useful to me.
On what special
skills do you rely?
My gift with the
paint brush and, above all, my ability to hear the voices of the departed people.
Are you close to
family?
I’m sad to give you
a negative answer. I left my parents’ house because of my father’s tyrannical
attitude. I live now in a house of my own and my brother Colin joined me
shortly after I left.
How well do you
know your neighbors?
Not too well. I
have no clue who my neighbors are. I am a friendly person, but I never enter
other people’s lives uninvited. The neighborhood didn’t seem very welcoming to
me, so I kept to myself. It has never struck me that being a newcomer in the
House Creek North district, on Elm Street, mattered. I hoped to be able to
build a new life, I alone, in charge of it. My life with my family was mapped
by my father’s will and whim.
If someone from
your past showed up, who would you most want it to be, and why?
It would be Hans,
my boyfriend of those days. But I can’t reveal more about him now. You’ll have
to read my story and then you’ll understand why.
If someone from
your past showed up, who would you most NOT want it to be, and why?
An easy answer, and
I refer to another past life – Judge Wieland. A man I had deep respect for, at
first. Until I discovered what lay beneath his façade of respectability.
What secrets do
you know about people around you that you do NOT share?
Too many. Their
departed relatives and friends trust me with those secrets as they know I will
not tell anybody else. And, a secret is a secret, so I can’t share it with you.
What past event
causes you the most fear?
Hmm! Hard to
explain at first, but I have an irrational fear of fire. Later, I learned what
caused it. In another life I was burned at the stake as a witch, though the
accusations were false.
What would you
like to tell your writer?
I want to thank her
for helping me remember my past life, even if it was a heart breaking experience.
Today’s featured book is Till Life Do Us Part by Carmen
