Guest Blogger — Miss Mae

Author Miss Mae

Today’s guest blogger is the delightful Miss Mae, whom some of you may have seen around the web, on blogs, etc.

Today she will be sharing her thoughts and some excerpts from her book See No Evil, My Pretty Lady.

“See No Evil, My Pretty Lady” by Miss Mae

I readily admit that I’m drawn to stories set during Victorian times. There are a couple of reasons for this, I think.

While in junior high, our English literature class was required to read Dickens’ “Great Expectations”. This was nowhere as romantic as my young mind wished it to be, but Dickens’ writing was so vivid that he was able to whisk me into a different world.

So, already intrigued, I decided to read a copy of Sherlock Holmes by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Lover of mysteries by nature, I fell totally under the spell of Doyle. I thought Holmes a fascinating character, and my imagination went right along with him and Dr. Watson as they traveled the dark, shadowy, and foggy streets of London in search of hidden clues.

My book, “See No Evil, My Pretty Lady” takes place during the height of Jack the Ripper’s reign. Though the madman left no witnesses, I wondered, ‘What if he had?’ I found the idea tantalizing, and thus, created the tale of Dorcy Edwards escaping from his clutches. The subsequent terror that enshrouds Dorcy, as the Ripper mercilessly hunts her down, leads her on a dangerous nightmarish journey.

Below is an excerpt from Chapter One:

Dorcy rushed through the doorway, grabbing the hand railing to keep from falling down the slippery steps. Swirling fog cocooned her, the impenetrable moisture abruptly halting her frenzied flight.
Mr. Davenport!

The scream resonated long and loud inside her mind. With stunning clarity the image she’d seen rammed into her consciousness—a figure sprawled on the library floor, white shirt soaked with blood, the hilt of a knife stuck in his belly.

Numb with shock, she stood unmoving as the air erupted with noise. Hooves clattering against the cobble-stoned street signaled an approaching rider. Through a parting in the shifting fog she stared toward the corner gas lamp. Beneath its arcing light trotted a snorting gelding, a shrunken visage of a man hunched over the animal’s neck.

“A body’s been found in Mitre Square.” Raising his prune wrinkled face, the old man shrilled out his warning. “Lock yer doors. Stay inside.”

He spurred the horse down the street and the pair disappeared into the mist. His high, thin cry merged with the fading echo of the steed’s departing hoof beats.

Dorcy inhaled a shuddering breath, the sudden odor of human body sweat alerting her to someone’s presence. A deep, unfamiliar voice said, “Madame, I have some business with you.”

Gasping, she whirled to flee. But a strong hand gripped her arm and flung her against the wall of the house. Knocked breathless, she opened her mouth to scream.

“Oh no, my pretty lady.” Vise-like fingers clamped on her throat, preventing sound. “I think you’ll be telling no one that you saw me.”

She clawed at the attacker’s hand, her nails slashing his flesh as she fought to loosen his hold. Through the ringing crescendo of blood in her ears she heard the barking of a dog. The man jerked back and Dorcy twisted away. He grabbed at her, clenching her shoulder. She lashed out, her fists beating against the rough texture of his jacket. Strength born out of terrified desperation she tore herself free, squealing with pain as his fingers raked down her arm.

This was originally sold in digital format only. It won several awards, including a Top Ten Read of 2008 from MyShelf.com. But I wanted it in print, and now today I’m happy to say that it is! It’s at Barnes & Noble, and Amazon.

Also, I hope readers will come to my site and view the excellent movie trailer created by Triad Film Productions. It’s worth the watch!

Thank you, Miss Mae, for this intriguing peek into your delightful book.

To visit Miss Mae’s other sites:

Miss Mae on My Space

The Sweetest Romance Authors

Miss Mae’s Website