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Joan Curtis

Joan Curtis

About

Joan is an award-winning writer who has published 5 books and numerous stories. In her newest mystery/suspense novel, The Clock Strikes Midnight, we meet Janie Knox, a tormented young woman who escaped her home and family after a jury convicted her stepfather of killing her mother. Full of twists and turns, readers learn of a trail of long-hidden family secrets that plague the lives of both Janie and her older sister, Marlene. Not until the last page do all the secrets reveal themselves and the web of lies finally release its hold on the two sisters. 

Joan has been an avid reader for as long as she can remember.  She reads all kinds of books, including women’s fiction, mysteries, biography, and nonfiction related to her work.  She does not read fantasy, horror or romance.  Her passion as a reader lies closer to literary writing with a commercial bent. Her debut novel, The Clock Strikes Midnight,  is scheduled for release in the Fall 2014. This mystery/suspense book is exactly the kind of book Joan loves to read.

"I write about characters who remind me of myself at times and my sister at times, but never fully so. My stories are told from a woman's point of view with a destiny. Characters drive my writing and my reading."

Having grown up in the South with a mother from Westchester County New York, Joan has a unique take on blending the southern traditions with the eye of a northerner.  She spent most of her childhood in North Carolina and now resides in Georgia.

The Time That's Given

The Time That's Given

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Description

<p><strong><em>Have you ever awoken from a vivid dream and wondered which side of waking was real?</em></strong></p><p>Burt Higgins' retirement is not going well. His children have grown, and his wife has gone off to earn a late-life degree, leaving him alone in his sprawling suburban home. With too much time on his hands, he broods on the state of the world, obsessively following the worst of cable news and the Internet. Increasingly angry at the state of affairs, he nurtures a fantasy that a dark lord from another realm has foisted these problems on humankind. If only he could transport to that world, he'd confront the demon and use the magic found there to defeat the beast and end despair forever.</p><p>On a particularly bad news day, while housebound in the midst of a snowstorm, he retreats to his study to shut out the world and immerse himself in his books. When, on a whim, he lights a candle purchased in an obscure Prague curiosity shop, a magical guide appears and offers to take him on whatever quest he chooses. When he asks to become a hero in a fantasy realm, he discovers a more complex world than he expected, and battling evil with magic turns out to be far from his greatest challenge.</p><p><strong>EVOLVED PUBLISHING PRESENTS</strong> a specualtive fantasy adventure sure not just to entertain you, but to make you consider your life, your dreams, your goals. [DRM-Free]</p><h2><strong>Books by David Litwack:</strong></h2><ul><li><em>Along the Watchtower</em></li><li><em>The Daughter of the Sea and the Sky</em></li><li><em>The Time That's Given</em></li><li><em>The Children of Darkness</em> (The Seekers - Book 1)</li><li><em>The Stuff of Stars</em> (The Seekers - Book 2)</li><li><em>The Light of Reason</em> (The Seekers - Book 3)</li></ul><h2><strong>More Great Fantasy Fiction from Evolved Publishing:</strong></h2><ul><li><em>The Awakening of David Rose</em> (David Rose #1) by Daryl Rothman</li><li><em>Shadow Swarm</em> by D. Robert Pease</li><li><em>Kingdom in Chains</em> by J.W. Zulauf</li><li>The &quot;Grims' Truth&quot; Series by Isu Yin &amp; Fae Yang</li></ul><p> </p>

Story Behind The Book

What Three Things I Write: 1) Fiction/Mystery/Suspense Novels. Oh my gosh, did I put three in one? In truth I write fiction but my fiction seems to always carry a note of suspense and mystery. I'm not sure I could write a straightforward piece of fiction without mystery coming into play. Because I'm what's called an "evolutionary" writer versus a writer with a clear script, my books take a life of their own as I'm writing. Whenever I've tried to write a piece of "literary fiction" where there's little plot and no suspense (just beautiful prose), I fail miserably because my need to suspense creeps in on tiptoe and before long the story takes a dastardly turn. The Clock Strikes Midnight is a perfect example of a book that took such a turn. It began as a story about a woman going through a mid-life crisis. Wow! Did that ever change. If you want a sneak preview, sign-up to read the first two chapters.

Media Links

Selling in a Skirt Radio

🔗 http://www.sellingwithaskirtwithjudyhoberman.com

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Michael Dresser Radio

🔗 http://www.michaeldressershow.com

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Sandy Kastel & Friends Variety Show

🔗 http://www.klav1230am.com/sandy-kastel.html

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Shedding the Bitch Radio

🔗 http://www.blogtalkradio.com/sheddingthebitchradio/2014/11/18/everything-you-wanted-to-know-about-writing-with-5-time-author-joan-c-curtis

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Reviews

<h2><strong>RAVE REVIEWS:</strong></h2> <p>The Clock Strikes Midnight by Joan C. Curtis is an amazing story with a number of twists cleverly hidden away. It was gripping and, no matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t have guessed the ending if I tried. It’s a bittersweet story, full of love, laughter and tragedy, one that will have any reader on the edge of their seat, biting their nails as the story roars to its conclusion. Joan Curtis has done a wonderful job here, the story is gripping enough to keep you reading and the characters are a perfect fit. I look forward to reading more from Joan Curtis in the future.</p> <p><strong><em>Ann Marie Reynolds Reader’s Favorite.</em></strong></p> <p>----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------</p> <p>I really enjoyed “<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Clock-Strikes-Midnight-Joan-Curtis-ebook/dp/B00NUGACKO/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1411587034&amp;sr=8-3&amp;keywords=the+clocks+strikes+midnight">The Clock Strikes Midnight”</a> by Joan Curtis. It’s a story of the love of children for a parent, loss, dealing with adversity, and trying to rise above. It’s a story of how our past frames us and asks the question if we can change our future.<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Clock-Strikes-Midnight-Joan-Curtis-ebook/dp/B00NUGACKO/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1411587034&amp;sr=8-3&amp;keywords=the+clocks+strikes+midnight"> “The Clock Strikes Midnight”</a> is an American drama with a southern flare. If you like Fannie Flagg, Melissa Foster or Jodi Picoult, purchase this wonderful work of fiction.</p> <p><strong>Tammy Dewhirst  <a href="http://www.rabidreaders.com">The Rabid Readers</a></strong></p> <p>-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------</p> <p><strong>Reviewed by Jeffrey Brooke-Stewart for <a href="http://www.readersfavorite.com">Reader’s Favorite</a></strong></p> <p>With The Clock Strikes Midnight, <strong><em>Joan Curtis has written a true page-turner.</em></strong></p> <p>On a number of occasions the reader may anticipate the ending, but each time a new variable is introduced to maintain the uncertainty and tension! <strong><em>The result is a fast-moving suspense-filled yarn. Those who like a good mystery will enjoy this book.</em></strong></p> <p><strong><em>---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------</em></strong></p> <p><strong>Reviewed by Kymberly Bennett</strong></p> <p>This was a very intense read for me. I could not imagine being Janie. I have had a step dad and step mom and I have no idea what I would do if either of them had harmed my parent. I might react in the same way Janie does and want some revenge. I might not, but this story truly ticks all the right boxes that you want to see in a novel. If you love a good mystery and a tale that is far more then just vengeance, you will enjoy this story. I would recommend it to all mystery lovers.</p>