Author Guest Post with Curtis Maynard: The Ghost of Shantel Thompson

When the Riggs family in Mobile, Alabama, faced the mysterious death of their adoptive daughter Shantel Thompson, they never imagined her ghost would linger for decades…

Welcome to one of the January 2nd stop on the blog tour for The Ghost of Shantel Thompson by Curtis Maynard with Goddess Fish Promotions. Be sure to follow the rest of the tour for spotlights, reviews, more author guest posts, and a giveaway! More on that at the end of this post.

Please note that this post contains affiliate links, which means there is no additional cost to you if you shop using my links, but I will earn a small percentage in commission. A program-specific disclaimer is at the bottom of this post.

Author Guest Post

As An Author, What Scares Me the Most?

Being an independent author with an extremely low budget, the part that scares me the most is just how many people will read my book, or the lack of. After all, we pour our time and money into creating a story that we want as many people to read as possible. The average independent author puts more money into a novel than they will ever get back from sales for it.

Any author that creates a story, pouring their finances, time and heart into it, will eventually realize that marketing is more expensive than most hobbies. The average marketing campaign is thousands of dollars. So you basically have to sell tens of thousands of books to just break even.

So when I release a novel, I try my best to be resourceful, and utilize l the tools of marketing I can. But in the end it is always scary not knowing just how many people will see your book.

About the Book

The Ghost of Shantel Thompson
by Curtis Maynard

Published 18 December 2023
Maynard Productions

Genre: Paranormal Thriller
Page Count: 227
Add it to your Goodreads TBR!

When the Riggs family in Mobile, Alabama, faced the mysterious death of their adoptive daughter Shantel Thompson, they never imagined her ghost would linger for decades…

In Curtis Maynard’s heart-stopping paranormal thriller, ‘The Ghost of Shantel Thompson,’ a new family, fifty years later, grapples with a haunting legacy where the line between life and death is hauntingly thin.

Just as they begin to settle into their new life, their own young daughter is gripped by chilling visions of Shantel. It’s not just fleeting shadows—she’s entangled in a vengeful spirit’s relentless quest for justice, a quest that spans generations.

As whispers from the grave reveal long-hidden secrets, this new family faces a terrifying truth: some ghosts refuse to be silenced. Now, they must confront the mystery of Shantel’s death before her ghostly agenda consumes them all.

Dare to uncover the truth? ‘The Ghost of Shantel Thompson’ awaits to send shivers down your spine.

Amazon US | Amazon CA | Amazon UK

Excerpt

Reacting swiftly, Damian lunged out of bed and rushed to Sarah’s side, using his body as a shield between Alicia and her mother. “Alicia? Alicia?” he repeated, his voice desperate, hoping to break the hold of whatever trance had possessed her.

Alicia blinked, her eyes refocusing as she met her father’s gaze. “Dad?” Her voice was calm, confusion evident in her tone. She glanced down at the knife in her hand. “What happened?”

“That’s what we want to know,” Damian replied, his voice filled with concern. “Your mother woke up and saw you standing over her with a knife.”

Alicia’s gaze shifted to Sarah, who sat trembling on the bed. “I don’t remember coming in here. I don’t know where I got the knife from.” She looked back at her father. “I must’ve been sleepwalking again.”

“What’s the last thing you remember?” Damian asked, a trace of suspicion in his voice.

Alicia’s mind raced, searching for a plausible explanation. She couldn’t afford to be caught in the act of sneaking into their room. “I… I remember a nightmare. Yes, that’s what it was. I was sleeping, and I had a nightmare. I didn’t know what was going on. And the next thing I know, you’re shaking me awake.”

Relieved by Alicia’s explanation, Damian gently took the knife from her hand. “Let me just take this from you,” he said, his tone soothing. “And let’s get you back into bed.”

About the Author

Curtis Maynard is an independent filmmaker, screenwriter, and author passionate about suspenseful storytelling. Enthralled by the paranormal, his mysteries and thrillers feature everything from hauntings and visions to cryptic messages from beyond the grave. Curtis currently resides with his wife and son in Alabama, a setting rich with inspiration for his novels and short films. He hopes his stories will leave you spellbound, disquieted, and suspicious of the slightest shuddering shadow.

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Giveaway Alert!

The author will be awarding a $25 Amazon/BN GC to a randomly drawn winner.