Clarissa Johal: Permuted Press

Showing posts with label Permuted Press. Show all posts

Wednesday, October 12, 2016

#OctoberFrights Blog Hop - Voices by Clarissa Johal #bestseller #paranormal #suspense #giveaway

Welcome to 2016 October Frights Blog Hop!
You're in the right place, so pour yourself a cup of coffee, and read on...

Today, I'm treating you to an exclusive excerpt from my paranormal suspense bestseller, Voices.
If it strikes your fancy, the Rafflecopter to win an ecopy (ePub, mobi, PDF) & a Starbucks $10 egiftcard is at the end.
*INTERNATIONAL PRIZE PACKAGE: EBOOK & STARBUCKS EGIFTCARD
Winner will be announced on October 16th

Enjoy!

Book Details:

Genre: Paranormal Suspense
Author: Clarissa Johal
Editor: Bobbie Metevier
Cover Art: David Walker
Publisher: Permuted Press, May 2015
Pages: 264

About Voices:

And one is determined to drag her into the afterlife with him.

Excerpt:

“Moira?” Dr. Cassano called from the end of the hall.

She bolted for the stair exit, slipping behind the door. It closed with a quiet hiss and she leaned against it, listening. Moira’s heart pounded in her chest with a force that made her head hurt.

“He’s going to drag you back into his office,” Jack whispered in her ear.

She nudged his presence away with her shoulder.

“You’ll never make it down all those stairs before he catches up with you.”

They were on the concrete landing of the fourth floor. Jack was right. Dr. Cassano would reach her before she made it down the first flight of stairs.

“I don’t like it when you talk to him about me,” Isabella whined.

“Of course you don’t,” Jack soothed. “Moira was being mean, wasn’t she?”

Isabella nodded, looking injured.

“Let’s play a game,” he said.

“A game, a game!” She clapped her hands, her previous mood dissolved. “Let’s play tag!” She grabbed Moira’s arm with an icy hand. “If he tags you, you’ll be it.”

“Tag, that’s perfect, Isabella,” Jack said. “I think Moira should jump. It’s the only way she’s going to get away.”

Isabella looked over the railing. An uncertain frown crossed her face.

“It’s not that far,” he said.

“It is so!” she argued.

“No. It isn’t.” Jack pressed himself against Moira. “I want to see her try and get away.”

“It’s a long way down.”

“Shut up, Isabella” he growled.

Isabella shrunk back for a second and then cocked her head, listening. “He’s coming!”

“If he drags her back to his office, no telling what he’ll do,” Jack said. “This is tag, Isabella. Moira has to get away or she’ll be it.”

Excited, Isabella ran back and forth between them and the door. “He’s coming, Moira! Jump!”

Jack backed Moira up to the railing. She glanced over her shoulder at the dizzying height of the stairwell. The railing dug into her back. The coldness of Jack’s presence seeped through her body. She could hear Dr. Cassano calling her name. Moira opened her mouth to answer him.

“Don’t,” Jack murmured.

Panicked, she tried to push past him and couldn’t.

“I can feel how scared you are.” Something bordering on hunger crept into his voice. “How scared would you be if you fell?” His presence pressed against her and she cringed. “Your heart is beating so hard, Moira. And your breath…it’s coming faster too.”

A wave of dizziness threatened to overcome her. In a fit of desperation, she pushed through Jack’s presence and stumbled. She grabbed the railing with both hands and fled down the stairs, grasping it tightly all the way down. Icy tremors reverberated throughout her core like aftershocks.

***

Bestseller in paranormal suspense

*INTERNATIONAL PRIZE PACKAGE:
EBOOK & STARBUCKS EGIFTCARD

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Don't forget to enter my other October Frights Giveaways

Giveaway #1 - a signed copy of Poppy & a Starbucks $10 gift card
Giveaway #2 - Struck is FREE from October 10-14th. Giveaway is for a $10 Starbucks gift card

Clarissa Johal is the bestselling author of paranormal novels, Poppy, The Island, Voices, Struck and Between. When she’s not listening to the ghosts in her head, she’s dancing, taking pictures of gargoyles, or swinging from a trapeze. She shares her life with her husband, two daughters, and every stray animal that darkens their doorstep.

Find Clarissa Online:

Twitter

Keep hopping!

Hosted by Clarissa Johal

Friday, October 9, 2015

2015 October Frights Blog Hop - Grand Prize Package #Giveaway #paranormal #horror #Octoberfrights

Welcome to the 2015 October Frights Blog Hop

Join 40+ paranormal and horror authors for ten days of screaming good fun. Books and prizes to be won!

Hosted by me (Clarissa Johal)

Today is the last day of the hop!
I hope you enjoyed my free short stories, exclusive excerpts, and Rafflecopter contests offering signed paperbacks & ecopies of my books, AND some awesome prizes.

The Grand Giveaway!

Prize package includes:

Your choice of ebooks -
BETWEEN, STRUCK, or VOICES

Ouija shot glasses - set of four

A cameo appearance in my upcoming novel POPPY
*If you win, I'll send you a short questionnaire, and will immortalize you (as a ghost!) in my upcoming novel

Coming Soon

POPPY

A red-headed, pink-loving mortician who speaks to the dead.

A socially awkward funeral director.

Poppy and Dante from STRUCK are back.

Something is lingering around Skyview Funeral Home--and it's stealing souls of the departed. With Dante in tow, Poppy is determined to put a stop to it. Will she be able to protect those who are trying to cross over? Or will her soul be next?

a Rafflecopter giveaway

You still have a chance to enter all my contests!

To Enter my Giveaway Package for BETWEEN

a Rafflecopter giveaway

To Enter my Giveaway Package for STRUCK

a Rafflecopter giveaway

To Enter my Giveaway Package for VOICES

a Rafflecopter giveaway

To Enter my Giveaway Package for THE ISLAND

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Keep hopping!

2015 October Frights Blog Hop - "Tandem" #paranormal #flashfiction & Final Prize Packages #Giveaway #Octoberfrights

Welcome to the 2015 October Frights Blog Hop

Join 40+ paranormal and horror authors for ten days of screaming good fun. Books and prizes to be won!

Hosted by me (Clarissa Johal)

In case you're late to the party, from October 1-10th, join me for free short stories, exclusive excerpts, and Rafflecopter contests. I'm offering signed paperbacks & ecopies of my books, AND some awesome prizes. On October 10th, there's a grand prize so be sure and stop by then.

Today is Rafflecopter recap and my final free short story. Enjoy!

Tandem

Photo courtesy of Steven Erdmanczyk Jr via Flickr
EditedTandem by Clarissa Johal

She'd been visiting the playground alone for the past week. It was quiet at night, which allowed her the space to think. When she first noticed the swing next to her move on its own, it intrigued, rather than frightened her. She watched it creak back and forth, and then slow when she'd reach out to make a connection. Try as she might, her fingers would always grasp at nothing.

Within eyesight of the playground was a cemetery. It was her belief that the person using the swing must be a benevolent spirit from that place. Someone inclined to linger in a playground after their death. Someone who now offered comfort in her loneliness. Maybe a child, or someone like her. Someone who wished things were simple and kind. It was her belief that the spirit who joined her each evening, thought swings were more fun than headstones or mausoleums. She was unsure.

It had been a morning where she wondered if the cemetery wasn't the better place. The troublesome thought lingered all day. When night fell, she hurried to the playground, hoping the spirit would be there. It was, and they swung in tandem. What had been a fast-dying ember of happiness, grew within her being, and caught like a flame. The graveyard disappeared from her vision below, replaced by the stars above. Higher and higher she swung, until her feet almost touched the sky. Her thoughts were pulled, one by one, until nothing but elation remained. When she finally realized what had happened, she slowed until the creaking from the swing stopped completely.

Silence settled in the playground in the wake of her departure. The hulking and misshapen entity who had occupied the swing, peeled itself from it and followed her into the graveyard.

************

If you haven't had the chance yet, my Giveaways are listed here:

To Enter my Giveaway Package for BETWEEN

a Rafflecopter giveaway

To Enter my Giveaway Package for STRUCK

a Rafflecopter giveaway

To Enter my Giveaway Package for VOICES

a Rafflecopter giveaway

To Enter my Giveaway Package for THE ISLAND

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Keep hopping!

Monday, October 5, 2015

2015 October Frights Blog Hop - VOICES Exclusive Excerpt & Prize Package #Giveaway #Octoberfrights #paranormal #suspense

Welcome to the 2015 October Frights Blog Hop

Join 40+ paranormal and horror authors for ten days of screaming good fun. Books and prizes to be won!

Hosted by me (Clarissa Johal)

Today is exclusive excerpt day! Don't forget to enter the Rafflecopter contest!

Sometimes the ghosts from your past…are real.

Moira claims to hear voices and is sent a psychiatric hospital. Her doctor is hesitant to treat her as schizophrenic, as she doesn't show typical symptoms. As their sessions progress, she confesses there are two voices—and they aren't voices in her head, but the voices of ghosts.
And one is determined to drag her into the afterlife with him.

Available in ebook only
Amazon
Amazon UK
Amazon CA
Barnes and Noble
Barnes and Noble UK
Smashwords
KOBO
Google Play
Also available on iTunes and Scribd

VOICES Excerpt:

They got their food and sat at one of the dining room tables in the corner. Moira pretended not to notice a couple of raised eyebrows from the other patients.

“How long have you been able to see them?”

“Who?”

“Your ghosts.”

“For a while,” Moira replied vaguely.

Adam picked up his dinner roll and took a large bite. “My guess is longer than just ‘a while.’”

Moira’s attention was captured again by his green eye, so sharply contrasting his brown one. He was almost too intense to look at. Almost.

“How did you get the scratches?” His gaze settled on her cheek.

“One of the other patients started a fight,” she said, covering her cheek with her hand. “I guess she doesn’t like me.”

“What’s not to like? You seem okay to me.”

Oddly, his statement made her stomach do a flip-flop. “Thanks.”

“You know how some people are, quick to judge.” He dropped his fork and bent to retrieve it.

Moira pictured herself reaching over and brushing back the lock of dark hair that fell across his forehead. She glanced nervously over her shoulder. Jack and Isabella were strangely silent. Isabella was probably just trying to figure out what childish thing she could say, but Jack…she knew that Jack was sizing Adam up; he did it with every man she came into contact with. And she knew he wouldn’t appreciate her noticing how handsome Adam was either.

“I’m sure they upped her meds,” Adam said as he tossed the fork onto the table again. “This place sucks. It won’t do a damn thing but make you spill your guts, drive you crazy or turn you into a zombie. Last pills they sent me home with made me feel like my skull was being split with a meat cleaver.”

“So you stopped taking them?”

“Yep.”

“How did you end up back here?”

“My brother called the cops. Lying asshole, I should be used to it by now,” Adam muttered. “I was staying with him until I got my shit together, but he walked in on me as I was flushing my pill down the toilet and freaked out.” A look of distress crossed his face. “Whatever, I’ll be out soon enough.” He finished his roll and started on an apple. “What did your doctor put you on? Who is your doctor anyways?”

“Um, he hasn’t put me on anything yet. I see Dr. Cassano.”

“Ahh, Dr. Cassano.” He raised an eyebrow. “I hear the nurses talking about him all the time.”

“He’s nice enough.”

“I see Dr. Leo. He’s an asshole.” He spit out the bite of his apple and without getting up, tossed the rest of it into the garbage, basketball style. “Have you spoken to your ghosts about leaving?”

“I’ve …tried.”

“They won’t?”

“No.”

“You want me to ask them for you?”

“Seriously?” She stayed an initial surge of hopefulness and reminded herself that Adam was in here because he was crazy. Not like her at all.

“I can try.”

He settled back and stared right at Isabella. That’s a fluke, she thought. He just picked an empty spot next to me.

“You need to go,” Adam said simply. “Moira doesn’t want you around her.” He waited a beat. “Wow, she’s hostel. Kids can be such brats. I’ll try your other one.”

He looked right at where Jack stood. The other empty spot next to me, she reminded herself.

“Leave. Your time is done, tall guy. You have no business being here anymore.”

She felt Jack’s presence crackle with anger.

“He’s even more hostel than she is,” Adam said. “Sucks for you.”

Moira felt her hopes deflate. Well, it’s not as if he can really see them, she thought. “Thanks anyways.”

He aimed his plastic cup towards the trash and tossed it. It missed and rolled towards the kitchen door. “Damn. No points for me.”

The cook leaned out the kitchen door and waved his ladle at them. “Stop tossing your garbage everywhere, you’re getting milk on the floor. Somebody’s got to mop that up.”

“I hate that a culinary genius like you has to do that,” Adam called back with a straight face.

“Smart ass,” the cook replied. “You lucky I don’t spit in your food.”

Adam held his hands up in mock surrender. “I know you say that with love, Nathan.” He picked up his tray. “See you around.”

Moira watched him swagger away. It suddenly dawned on her that she hadn’t mentioned Isabella was a child or said anything about Jack.

Lucky guess.

*************

The Giveaway!

Prize package includes:
1- ecopy of VOICES (Kindle not included!) epub, mobi or PDF
1- Book of Shadows: An over-sized blank (lined paper) Journal designed by Clarissa Johal
1- Genuine Rosewood ballpoint pen in wooden gift box

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Keep Hopping!

2015 October Frights Blog Hop - "Spirit Loop" #paranormal #flashfiction & VOICES Prize Package #Giveaway #Octoberfrights

Welcome to the 2015 October Frights Blog Hop

Join 40+ paranormal and horror authors for ten days of screaming good fun. Books and prizes to be won!

Hosted by me (Clarissa Johal)

From October 1-10th, join me for free short stories, exclusive excerpts, and Rafflecopter contests. I'm offering signed paperbacks & ecopies of my books, AND some awesome prizes. On October 10th, there's a grand prize so be sure and stop by then.

Photo courtesy of Luca Rossato via Flickr

Spirit Loop by Clarissa Johal

The hospital ruins were silent. His footsteps echoed against the broken tiles as he pointed his flashlight down the darkened hallway. The urgent whisper began again.

"Hello? Security." His voice echoed down the hallway. "This building's off-limits."

Shadows thrown against the cracked plaster walls, seemingly followed him as he made his way towards the sound. He came to a closed door and lay his ear against it. The whispers of the woman continued, almost as if in hushed prayer.

Grasping his flashlight, he placed his hand against the door, and slowly pushed it open. "Ma'am?"

A woman stood on a wooden chair. One end of a dirty bed sheet was wound around her neck, while the other end looped over a pipe on the ceiling.

The woman smiled. Several of her teeth were missing, and what was left, was broken off into sharp points. Her colorless hair was thin, and in disarray. "I'm free." She stepped off the chair. Instead of hanging herself, she slipped through the sheet like water. Spider-like, the blackened form of the spirit crawled up the wall and huddled in the corner.

"Holy shit—!" The security guard backed away.

She dropped to the ground and scuttled over to his feet. "You shouldn't be in here." The voice was hollow, and far from female. She lunged and bit his ankle.

He screamed and kicked at her. Grabbed the door knob, he rattled it unsuccessfully. "Let me out!" He glanced wildly over his shoulder.

Again, the woman stood on top of the rusty chair. One end of the dirty bed sheet appeared, wound around her neck, while the other end looped over a pipe on the ceiling. Her gaze connected with his own, before she stepped off the chair and slipped through the sheet like water.

*******

The Giveaway!

VOICES
by Clarissa Johal

Sometimes the ghosts from your past…are real.

Moira claims to hear voices and is sent a psychiatric hospital. Her doctor is hesitant to treat her as schizophrenic, as she doesn't show typical symptoms. As their sessions progress, she confesses there are two voices—and they aren't voices in her head, but the voices of ghosts.
And one is determined to drag her into the afterlife with him.

Available in ebook only

Amazon
Amazon UK
Amazon CA
Barnes and Noble
Barnes and Noble UK
Smashwords
KOBO
Google Play
Also available on iTunes and Scribd

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Keep Hopping!

Tuesday, May 19, 2015

Release Day Extravaganza Tour for VOICES #paranormal #suspense

Title: VOICES
Genre: Paranormal Suspense
Author: Clarissa Johal
Editor: Bobbie Metevier
Published by Permuted Press May 2015
ISBN: 9781618685698
ASIN: B00WAH55JW
Pages: 264

About VOICES:

Sometimes the ghosts from your past…are real.

Moira Flynn is arrested for attacking a door-to-door solicitor with a knife. She claims a voice told her the man was intent on assaulting her. The trouble is, she was the only one that heard that voice. Moira strikes a plea bargain and is sent to a psychiatric hospital for voluntary treatment. Dr. Richard Cassano is hesitant to treat her as schizophrenic, as she does not show the standard symptoms. As their sessions progress, Moira confesses there are two voices—and they aren’t voices in her head, but the voices of ghosts. Are they imaginary? Or are they actual spirits, attached to her for reasons of their own? As Moira’s doctor uncovers more of her past, he begins to realize that her ghosts are real. And one of them is determined to drag Moira into the afterlife with him.

Buy Links:

Amazon
Barnes and Noble
KOBO
Smashwords

TOUR SCHEDULE

On Writing and Riding

Fang-tastic Books

Author Sandra Love

Sara Daniel Romance Author

Lynn's Romance Enthusiasm

Author Carol Browne

Drue's Random Chatter

A Bookaholic's Fix: Feeding the Addiction

Babs Book Bistro

Marie's Cozy Corner

Tales from the Bayou...and other worlds

Book Babble

*Tour hosted by Sapphyria's Book Promotions

Friday, April 24, 2015

VOICES Pre-Order and Cover Reveal Blitz #paranormal #suspense #excerpt

"Sometimes the ghosts from your
past…are real."

Welcome to the Pre-Order and Cover Reveal Blitz

for VOICES by Clarissa Johal

Book Details:

Title: VOICES
Genre: Paranormal Psychological Suspense
Author: Clarissa Johal
Editor: Bobbie Metevier
Published by Permuted Press May 19, 2015
ISBN: 9781618685698
ASIN: B00WAH55JW
Pages: 264

About VOICES:

Sometimes the ghosts
from your past…are real.

Moira Flynn is arrested for attacking a door-to-door solicitor with a knife. She claims a voice told her the man was intent on assaulting her. The trouble is, she was the only one that heard that voice. Moira strikes a plea bargain and is sent to a psychiatric hospital for voluntary treatment. Dr. Richard Cassano is hesitant to treat her as schizophrenic, as she does not show the standard symptoms. As their sessions progress, Moira confesses there are two voices—and they aren’t voices in her head, but the voices of ghosts. Are they imaginary? Or are they actual spirits, attached to her for reasons of their own? As Moira’s doctor uncovers more of her past, he begins to realize that her ghosts are real. And one of them is determined to drag Moira into the afterlife with him.

Excerpt from VOICES:

Moira choked down a congealed glob of oatmeal. Bland, like all the food here. She picked up her plastic knife and smeared margarine onto a piece of dry toast. Patients were only given plastic utensils. She washed the toast down with a gulp of tepid decaf coffee and sat back, miserable. “I hate this place, I want out.”

“At least your session was cancelled for tomorrow,” Jack said. “One less thing I’ll have to sit through.”

Dr. Cassano didn’t say why, either, Moira worried. He seemed nervous about cancelling too.

“We’ll get out.”

“Not we, Jack, me. I want out.” She stared mournfully at the food on her tray. “I don’t care what happens to you.”

“That’s not nice,” Isabella said.

“I don’t care what happens to you, either.”

“You’re mean!” She retreated to the corner of the room to pout.

“Don’t be mean, Moira,” Jack reprimanded. “Isabella’s just a child.”

She let out a sound of frustration. They both knew Jack didn’t care the slightest about Isabella. “I wonder why Dr. Cassano cancelled it.”

“Why do you care?”

Moira turned away pointedly and undid her braid, hoping to dissuade the headache coming on.

“Don’t ignore me,” Jack said, his voice hardening. “I didn’t like the way he looked at you this morning.” He grabbed her arm.” I don’t like the way you look at him either. I see the way you look at him.”

She shook him off. “You’re paranoid, Jack.”

“You know what I’m talking about, don’t play dumb.” He sat back, his eyes watchful. “Don’t trust him, Moira. Who knows what he’s planning?”

“If you do anything, Jack, I mean anything. They’ll lock the door and throw away the key.” She moved away from his presence. “And don’t think they wouldn’t medicate me with a dozen different pills, all guaranteed to make you go away forever.”

“You know pills won’t make me go away, Moira,” Jack bit out. “They might make you sleep, but they won’t make me go away.”

Silence filled the room. Moira picked up her brush and started brushing out her hair.

“It would be his word against yours, if he ever tried anything.”

“Just drop it, Jack,” Moira said.

Jack narrowed his eyes. “He’d medicate you so you’d never remember it, either.”

She shook her head in disgust.

“Maybe you could bust out of here!” Isabella jumped up. “I’ll bet you could open the window with that knife.” She ran over to the window and pushed against it.

“It’s completely sealed, Isabella.” Moira watched her, feeling helpless to the noise from her efforts. “Stop banging on it! You’re going to get me into trouble.”

“You could cut through the walls!”

“Hello? Plastic knife, it can’t cut anything.”

“It can’t?” Jack asked. “Have you tried?”

She caught his look and quickly turned her attention to Isabella, who was still thumping on the window. “I’m not breaking out of here, Isabella. Do you want me to go to jail?”

“But what if they keep you in here forever?” Isabella asked.

“They’re not going to.”

“But what if they do?” Isabella jumped up and down. “What if they keep you here until you’re old and grey and all your teeth fall out?”

“It would be awful to be stuck here forever,” Jack said quietly. “Wouldn’t it, Moira? Just awful.”

“They’re not going to keep me here forever!” Moira said. “Isabella, stop it!”

The door opened. “Problem?” the nurse asked.

She glanced over at Jack. A slice of a smile crept across his lips. “No. No problem. Just…thinking aloud.”

“Finish up your breakfast, then,” she said briskly. She shut the door again.

Moira picked up her carton of juice and took a sip.

Jack pushed her hand upwards, sloshing juice into Moira’s face and down her T-shirt.

Whoops!” Isabella giggled.

“Asshole,” she muttered. She went into the bathroom with Jack trailing her. Their eyes connected in the mirror.

“Looks like you’ll need another shower,” he murmured.

She pressed her mouth in a straight line and turned her back to him.

***

VOICES Pre-Order Links:

About the Author:

Clarissa Johal has worked as a veterinary assistant, zoo-keeper
aide and vegetarian chef. Writing has always been her passion. When she’s not listening to the ghosts in her head, she’s dancing or taking photographs of gargoyles. She shares her life with her husband, two daughters and every stray
animal that darkens the doorstep. One day, she expects that a wayward troll will wander into her yard, but that hasn’t happened yet.

*Member of the Author's Guild
*Member of the Horror Writers Association

VOICES

(May 2015) Permuted Press

STRUCK

(January 2014) 1^st Edition Musa Publishing, LLC
(March 2015) 2^nd Edition Clarissa Johal

*Second place in the Preditors and Editors Readers Poll 2014
*Winner of the Indie Book of the Day Award

BETWEEN
(December 2012) 1^st Edition Musa Publishing, LLC
(March 2015) 2^nd Edition Clarissa Johal

*Second place in the Preditors and Editors Readers Poll 2012
*Paranormal Reads gives BETWEEN 4 out of 5 Bats

PRADEE
(2010) Clarissa Johal

*Second round finalist in Amazon's Breakthrough Novel Award Contest 2012

Find Clarissa Online:

Tour Hosted by Sapphyria's Book Promotions: