All the Light There Is by Anise Eden: Interview

All the Light There Is

The Healing Edge, Book Three

Anise Eden

Genre: Paranormal Romance/Suspense

Publisher: Diversion Books

Date of Publication: September 12, 2017

ISBN: 978-1635761641

ASIN: 1635761646

Number of pages: 290

Word Count: 97,770

Tagline: Anise Eden brings us the thrilling and romantic finale to The Healing Edge Series, perfect for fans of Karen Robards or Shiloh Walker.

Book Description:

Psychotherapist Cate Duncan is done with danger. Her whirlwind weeks of training at the MacGregor Group’s parapsychology clinic, while exhilarating, have also brought one crisis after another. So when their research colleague Skeet offers Cate and her boss-turned-boyfriend Ben some time away at his secluded hunting lodge, even though it’ll be a working vacation, they jump at the chance.

But the idyllic Mercier Lodge is teeming with secrets. An aura reader and a telepath who work with Skeet reveal his unorthodox research methods, triggering the MacGregor Group’s suspicions. Then there’s the matter of a tragic death that occurred at the lodge over a year ago, and how it connects to unsolved mysteries from Cate’s past―mysteries she may not be ready to confront.

As they delve into Mercier’s unsavory history, Ben and Cate stick close together, trusting in their love for each other to keep them safe. But when a plot separates them, Cate must rely on the MacGregor Group’s paranormal abilities, some surprise allies, and her own determination to track Ben down and crack Mercier’s mysteries before the strange place claims any more victims.

Amazon     BN

Excerpt

ParaTrain Internship, Day Six

It’s just a meeting. Nothing to be nervous about. I wiped my damp palms on my skirt and ordered my brain to focus on something else. Like the Jag, I thought. Focus on the fact that you’re finally getting a ride in the Jag.

And not just any Jag—the British 1936 Jaguar SS100 Ben had restored. He’d found the car in a barn in Pennsylvania, sitting on blocks and covered in hay bales. Now, it looked like it had just left the showroom. My fingertips roamed across the soft leather seat as I admired each piece of shining chrome and the deep glow of the wood on the dash. The car’s transformation was a testament to Ben’s workmanship—not to mention to his patience and tenacity when it came to the things he loved.

The things—and the people, I thought, smiling down at my ring. I hadn’t exactly made things easy for Ben, but now, two gold birds were wrapped around my finger, holding a lustrous piece of Scottish agate between their wings. He’d wanted to give me a tangible reminder of how he felt, a talisman to guard against anxiety and doubt.

I stole a glance at Ben. He was completely in his element, left hand loosely holding the steering wheel, right elbow propped up on the door. Everything about him was solid and squared-off, from the angle of his jaw to the way he carried his shoulders. These qualities were augmented by his charcoal gray suit and crisp white shirt—worn sans tie, as usual. I marveled that no matter what internal battles he might be fighting, Ben always exuded a quiet confidence.

“Enjoying yourself?” he asked.

“Completely.” I closed my eyes and inhaled my new favorite scent—a mixture of fine wool, cotton, and vintage leather that clung to Ben like an olfactory tattoo. “My mom would have loved this, you know.”

His light brown eyes softened. “You think so?”

“Absolutely.” Every summer when I was a kid, she had taken me to the local car shows. Back then, we could only look, never touch. Riding along with Ben, I felt like a glamorous movie star. I struck my best Hollywood pose, and he smiled.

It was such a pleasure—not to mention a relief—to see Ben relax after the nonstop drama of the past two weeks. There had been too many life-and-death situations, too much tension. And more than anyone, Ben had earned a vacation. With that in mind, after our meeting at the Smithsonian, we planned to spend the rest of the weekend on the Eastern Shore. That evening, we had a dinner date with my mother’s cousin, Ardis, and a reservation at a nice bed-and-breakfast. Sunday’s schedule was still open. I thought we might head to the ocean; I loved the beach in the fall. Or we could take the ferry to Smith Island; wander around St. Michaels, go sailing…. As I considered the possibilities, I nearly forgot to be nervous.

Then we entered downtown D.C. I sobered as stately suburban homes gave way to modern office buildings and massive structures of chiseled granite. Before long, the Smithsonian office building came into view—ten stories of tinted glass reflecting the cloudless blue sky like a darkened mirror. It took up half a city block.

Ben caught me biting my lip. “You know there’s nothing to be nervous about, right?”

“I know,” I lied. The truth was, I couldn’t believe we were actually there. It had been less than twenty-four hours since Ben told his mother, Dr. MacGregor, about our group’s experience with the double kheir ritual. Now we were on our way to meet with her world-class paranormal research team—and not just to exchange information. We’d been asked to give a demonstration, as well.

I had dressed up for the occasion, wearing a dove gray pencil skirt and a wine-colored cashmere sweater my mother had given me one Christmas. Still, I couldn’t shake the feeling that I didn’t belong at the Smithsonian—not as anything more than a tourist, anyway.

“Well, just in case,” he said, “let me remind you that you have nothing to prove here. None of us do. My mother already told her colleagues what happened with our ritual, and they’re keen to know more. But they don’t have any definite expectations; after all, half of them still think the double kheir is just a myth.” In a conspiratorial tone, he added, “Think of it this way. I know you have a lot of questions. Today, you can ask anything you like.”

“Hmm.” I bit the tip of my finger. “Anything?”

“Sure.”

“Like whether The Da Vinci Code was based in fact? And whether they’re all members of the Illuminati?”

He chuckled as we pulled into the underground parking garage. “If you ask them those questions, I’ll make sure you get a substantial year-end bonus.”

“Deal,” I said, smiling tentatively. I was still getting used to the idea that my new boyfriend was also my new boss.

Ben was the manager of the MacGregor Group, an alternative healing clinic founded by his mother and housed in a repurposed church. I first met him when my former employer, Dr. Nelson, sent me to the MacGregor Group for treatment. My mother’s recent suicide had left me in pieces, unable to function. As close as she and I had been, somehow I hadn’t seen that my mother was in crisis. Her shocking loss had debilitated me, and I could barely leave my house, let alone return to my job as a psychotherapist. What Dr. Nelson hadn’t told me was that Dr. MacGregor was a psychiatrist who specialized in paranormal gifts, and that instead of “treating” me, she and Ben were enrolling me in ParaTrain, a paranormal skills training program. My first lesson had been to learn the definition of an empath—and that I was one.

Since then, my life had changed so dramatically that it was unrecognizable. Dr. Nelson, Dr. MacGregor, and Ben had all worked hard to convince me that because I was an empath, the key to maintaining my mental health was to leave my job as a therapist and go to work for the MacGregor Group. The idea of leaving my beloved therapy clients was nothing short of heartrending. But after due consideration and several persuasive paranormal experiences, I had agreed to take their advice. Before I could officially start my new job, though, I had to complete a three-week training program: one week of preparation, followed by a two-week internship.

My time in ParaTrain had flown by. Although I was starting my final week of the internship, I still didn’t feel anywhere near ready to take on my new role as an empath healer. Before I met the MacGregors, I hadn’t even known that empaths existed, so I was still struggling to find my bearings. And the unexpected romance between Ben and me was keeping me permanently off-balance. Add in the mind-blowing experience we’d had with the double kheir the previous week, and…. Well, I didn’t even know what had happened there, so I was fairly certain that I’d make a fool of myself trying to describe it to the Smithsonian research team.

That thought had me wiping my palms on my skirt again. “I am nervous, though, about this demonstration we’re supposed to give. The researchers may not have any definite expectations, but surely they’re hoping to see something. And unlike the rest of you, I have no idea what I’m doing.”

“You’ll be fine, Cate,” Ben reassured me as we pulled into a parking space. “Kai’s got it all figured out. He said he has something simple and easy planned, so just follow his instructions. Even if nothing interesting happens, that’s still useful information for my mother’s team. They’re scientists, remember? In an experiment, even a negative result is valuable.”

I had no reason to doubt Kai. He was a highly capable expert in ancient rituals, among other things. But when it came to the paranormal, I had a track record of unintentionally messing things up. “What if I forget our instructions and start reading people’s emotions?”

Dr. MacGregor had passed on a request from her project director that we refrain from using our paranormal gifts on the members of the research team without their specific permission. Apparently, they were much more comfortable observing others than being observed themselves.

“The fact that you’re already worrying about that means it’s highly unlikely you’ll forget,” he said. “And even if you do, who’s going to know?”

Only everyone, I thought. My poker face was nonexistent. I buried my face in my hands. “I’m just afraid that I’m going to embarrass myself. And you. And your mother. And disappoint everyone.”

Ben turned off the ignition. I felt him lean towards me and gently tuck an escaped strand of hair into my braid. “That’s not possible.”

His optimism was endearing, if ill-founded. “Oh, I assure you, it’s possible.”

About the Author:

Before becoming an award-winning author, ANISE EDEN wanted to be a wildlife photographer. Unfortunately, a strong aversion to large insects, poisonous snakes, and sharks―along with a cat allergy that might well extend to tigers―limited that career option. Also, Anise always roots for the gazelle, and we all know how that usually turns out. Fortunately, Anise’s voracious hunger for reading kept her occupied, eventually morphing into a passion for writing quirky stories filled with heart, humor, and imagination. Anise loves that through writing, she can live out any adventure she likes without the need for antivenom or antihistamines.

Visit her online at

Website: http://aniseeden.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authoraniseeden

Twitter: http://twitter.com/aniseeden

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/aniseeden/

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/14473205.Anise_Eden

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Anise-Eden/e/B014SD2RR8

Interview 

Please welcome All the Light There Is author Anise Eden to Diane’s Book Blog. 

Diane’s Book Blog, thank you so much for having me on your blog to celebrate the release of ALL THE LIGHT THERE IS, the third and final book in The Healing Edge paranormal romance/suspense series! It is such a pleasure to be here.  

What is your favorite part of the story, ALL THE LIGHT THERE IS? 

That is a tough one! I was surprised by how much fun I had writing the action/adventure scenes in this book, from goose hunting to paintballing. However, I have to say that I really relish those moments in the story when Cate and Ben uncover truths about themselves and their relationship that deepen their trust and strengthen their intimacy. It has been a difficult road for these two—and it doesn’t get easier in this book!—but I believe that fans of this couple will be rewarded for their patience and faith.

What books have most influenced your life?

There are too many to even begin to list, but looking back on the book that influenced me most as a writer, I would have to say A WRINKLE IN TIME by Madeleine L’Engle. Reading that book as a child opened my mind to the possibilities of combining science and fantasy with the excitement of adventure and the rich soil of relationships. I am really looking forward to seeing the movie adaptation of this book next March!

Can you share a little of your current work with us?

Here is a snippet from ALL THE LIGHT THERE IS. In this scene, the MacGregor Group is giving a demonstration of their paranormal gifts to some researchers, a couple of whom are skeptics. Enjoy!

Dr. MacGregor explained that she and Kai had designed a demonstration that would give the researchers an idea of our “baseline,” in terms of our abilities and how we worked together. In this case, it was a simple illumination ritual in which each of us would use our different gifts to discover things that were previously unseen or unknown. We decided to do the ritual first without Ben, then add him in to see if it made a difference.

Feeling a little bit like a circus freak, I tried to remind myself that we were taking part in a global research initiative at a respected institution. The five of us sensitives sat in a circle on the gym mats, while the researchers arranged chairs around us and sat poised with their notebooks. Ben and Pete stood outside the circle, offering thumbs-up signs. Kai arranged three rough, pointed crystals in a triangular formation in the middle of our circle, then put a few candles around the triangle and lit them. He then gestured for us all to hold hands.

Once we were ready, Kai began to speak, falling into a rhythmic tone and cadence. “I ask the gods and goddesses, spirit guides, and guardian angels, spirits from beyond the veil, and all those who wish to support us in this illumination ritual to be in attendance with us now.”

In the pause that followed, I felt a soft flow of cold air blowing on the top of my head, just as I had during my first ritual in the church basement. So it had been spirit energy, after all, as Kai had said, and not an erratic air-conditioning vent. I looked around the circle and saw that everyone else had their eyes closed, so I closed mine as well.

“Dr. Byrne,” Kai said, “your mother is here. May I have your permission to speak to Elba?”

I heard Dr. Byrne spit out a mouthful of what I guessed was his coffee.

“Sorry for the surprise,” Kai said. “We never know who’s going to come through in these things.”

“It’s fine, fine,” Dr. Byrne sputtered. “Yes, you have my permission.”

“You inherited her cat, Luna?” Kai asked.

“Ye—yes.”

“Well, Elba is saying that you should stop feeding Luna those liver treats. She knows they’re cheaper, but apparently some of the ingredients are carcinogenic. She wants you to buy the organic kind. Okay?”

I peeked at Dr. Byrne, who had gone as white as a sheet. “Organic. Yes, okay.”

“Good. All right, Elba and the other spirits are pulling their energy back, but they’ll stay nearby for now,” Kai said. “As a medium, that was my offering to the illumination ritual. My gift has shared what it has to share. Everyone else, go ahead and share as you feel inspired, whatever your gift is giving you.”

Vani spoke first, unable to conceal the concern in her voice. “Dr. Abera, I am feeling drawn to your aura. May I have your permission to read it?”

“Yes, go ahead,” Dr. Abera said.

Vani paused for a moment, then continued, “I see something concerning—a blockage around your lungs. I want to say you’re having trouble breathing, but the problem is in its early stages yet, and it can be managed. But I also sense some stubbornness around the blockage, as though you are reluctant to seek treatment. There is fear—fear that it won’t get better. But it will. You just need to see a doctor.”

We heard Dr. Abera mumble something. Kai said, “Can you validate what Vani said, Dr. Abera?”

“Yes, she’s right,” Dr. Abera reluctantly admitted. “I was diagnosed with refractory asthma, but I’ve been putting off my follow-up appointment. You know how it is; after a certain age, every time you go to the doctor, it’s just more bad news.”

“Well, time to stop procrastinating,” Kai said. “Thank you for validating that. Anyone else?”

“I’m blocking out the research team as we agreed,” Asa said, “but Dr. Singh, something you’re thinking is transmitting so loudly, I can almost hear it without even trying. Is it okay if I read that thought?”

“By all means, share,” Dr. Singh said.

Asa nodded. “The thought is, ‘I’m so thirsty.’”

Dr. Singh chuckled. “Remarkable that you picked that up, Asa. That’s absolutely right. A medication I’m taking causes dry mouth. It’s quite distracting at times.”

Kai said, “Then by all means! Pete, would you be so kind as to get Dr. Singh some water?”

“I’m on it,” Pete drawled, and we heard his boots clomp towards the water cooler.

“Much appreciated,” Dr. Singh said.

“Eve,” Kai asked, “anything on your end?”

There was a pause before Eve replied, “Nothing—which isn’t surprising, right? I mean, I’m not really doing my thing, here, I’m just supporting everyone as part of the double kheir.”

“No, not surprising at all,” Kai reassured. “I just thought I’d check in.”

Dr. MacGregor explained to the other researchers, “Eve can only access her precog abilities and look into the future when she’s in a trance.” There were murmurs of understanding.

Kai continued, “Okay, let’s see what our newest member has for us. Cate?”

“Um…” I bit my lip. “What am I supposed to do again?”

“Don’t force it,” Kai said. “Just turn inward, tap into your empath gift, and see what comes up, if anything.”

“Okay.” As I turned my attention inward, I saw in my mind’s eye the ever-present, tiny filaments of light rooted in my heart. They extended in all directions, connecting me to the people I cared about and allowing me to feel their emotions, no matter how far away they were. In my first week of training, I’d learned that those filaments were called portals, and that being able to open portals to other people was one of my paranormal abilities. But now, as my focus on my heart intensified, instead of discovering any new insights, I was overwhelmed by one thing, and one thing only.

“Um, Kai, I’m not sure I can contribute anything useful.”

“Why not?”

“It’s a little embarrassing.” I sighed. “All I can sense are the feelings Ben and I have for each other. They’re kind of pushing everything else out.”

“Nothing wrong with that,” Kai said cheerfully.

Dr. Singh chimed in, “Maybe that’s your signal that it’s time to bring Ben into the circle.”

“That’s what I was thinking,” Vani said.

“Let’s do it then!” We all opened our eyes.

What book are you reading now?

I’m usually reading about three or four books at once—something for every mood—but right at this moment, I am thoroughly enjoying my first cozy mystery, BASKET CASE (A Silver Six Crafting Mystery) by Nancy Haddock. It’s an absolutely wonderful story by an expert author with an irresistible, distinctive voice and a fabulous cast of characters. I’m absolutely eating it up!

What do you prefer paperback, hardcover, or ebooks? 

They all have their advantages. For a really long book, I like hardback, because I find them easier to handle. Paperbacks are perfect to slip into my bag and take with me when I know I’m going to have time to read, but I can’t say for sure whether I’ll have a place to charge an e-reader. However, if I have access to electricity, nothing beats the variety available on my Kindle, and the thrill of being able to get new books in an instant!