Black Friday is here and we’re discussing the season with Carolyn Crane’s Justine and her best friend Shelby from Head Rush.
In an attempt to put her unhappy past behind her, Justine Jones throws herself into nursing school and planning her wedding to Otto Sanchez, the man of her dreams. But something is off. Random details aren’t adding up…and is it her imagination, or are her friends and fiancé keeping secrets from her? And what’s with the strange sense of unease, and her odd new headaches?
Justine tries to stay upbeat as Midcity cowers under martial law, sleepwalking cannibals, and a mysterious rash of paranormal copycat violence, but her search for answers leads her into the most dangerous mind game yet.
With the help of unlikely allies, including her paranoid dad and best frenemy Simon, Justine fights her ultimate foe…and unravels the most startling mystery of all.
Make sure you stick around to the end. We’ll be giving away a copy of Mind Games or Double Cross (winners choice).
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Hi everybody! And thanks so much to Literary Escapism for inviting me here to help celebrate the dreaded Black Friday: the post-Thanksgiving day of shopping mayhem that kicks off the Christmas shopping holiday here in much of North America.
Justine Jones is the hypochondriac hero of the Disillusionists. She’s got her problem pretty well under control, especially after she zings a bad with fear.
But, on top of her intense grim outlook, poor Shelby has been having a hard year. Isn’t it nice of Justine to bring her best friend shopping to cheer her up?
In the parking lot
Justine:
Wow, look at all the cars at the Midcity Mall for Black Friday! People are really in the Christmas spirit.
SHELBY:
I would rather put a pitchfork through my very own face than be here, Justine.
JUSTINE:
Oh, Shelby, you’re just being dramatic. Being with people in the Christmas spirit will cheer you up! Look, we’re about to get a great parking spot. See that person’s about to leave!
[Justine puts on blinker and waits for the space]
[a car sneaks in and steals the space.]
JUSTINE:
Hey you jerk! Uh! Boy, would I like to zing that guy. [yells] I will fill you with fear, buster!!
SHELBY:
[grins] This might not be so bad after all.
In the toy store
JUSTINE:
Look at these fun hand puppets! Maybe we should get the gang puppets. Like, the disillusionists can be a puppet show. [puts puppets her each of her hands.] [high voice] I’m Carter, watch out for me, I’m angry all the time! [low voice:] I’m Simon. I’m reckless and crazy! Watch out for me! [high voice] I wuv you Simon! I don’t care how reckless you are! [low voice] You’re not so bad yourself, Carter. I know there’s things to be angry about. [high voice] Group hug!
SHELBY:
[has her own puppet] I’m Justine! let’s see how long I can keep up this inane puppet show before Shelby sets my puppets on fire…while I’m wearing them!
JUSTINE:
Hah! You would never! [takes puppets off anyway.] Hey, look, a Trixie doll. I used to have one of those. Did you have dolls?
SHELBY:
We played only with dirt and sticks.
JUSTINE:
Oh, sorry.
SHELBY:
I am glad. Dirt and sticks are truth. All other toys are lies!
JUSTINE:
[pouty frown] Trixie had hair you could pull on, and it would grow.
SHELBY:
Pfft!
Outside the massage and aromatherapy store
JUSTINE:
I just thought of a great gift for Carter! Relaxing aromatherapy massage gift certificate! Do you think that will calm his anger?
SHELBY:
[Laughs uncontrollably.]
JUSTINE:
[Snorts, then laughs.] I guess that’s a bad idea.
Fashion store
JUSTINE:
Look Shelby, a crazy colorful scarf like you used to wear. You would have loved this in your color-wearing days. Maybe it’s time to wear a colorful thing again.
SHELBY:
It will not make me happy.
JUSTINE:
I think you like it—I can tell by the way you’re looking at it. [sing-songy] I think you’re tempted! I’m getting it for you. I think it will cheer you up.
SHELBY:
It will not.
ANOTHER SHOPPER:
[grabs scarf] Sorry, I was going to buy this, and it’s the last one.
JUSTINE:
[pulls other end of scarf] Too late. You let it go.
OTHER SHOPPER:
No! [tries to pull scarf from Justine’s hand] It’s mine!
JUSTINE:
[tug-of-war] It’s mine!
OTHER SHOPPER:
It’s mine!
JUSTINE:
Mine!
OTHER SHOPPER:
[widens eyes, drops scarf like a hot potato and runs away]
SHELBY:
Did you just zing her?
JUSTINE:
Maybe.
SHELBY;
[smiles]
JUSTINE:
Hah! That cheered you up.
SHELBY:
No, you cheer me up, Justine. You are my good friend.
JUSTINE:
[links arms with Shelby] You better wear it now.
***
Aren’t you glad the disillusionists are in the Christmas spirit? LOL. Hey, thanks to Jackie & the Escapism gang for having me over here for your Black Friday celebration. And, just to make up for the -ahem- lack of actual Christmas spirit in the post, there’s a giveaway! Your choice of Mind Games or Double Cross (books #1 or #2 of the Disillusionists trilogy)! In signed print or ebook, and international is welcome. Merry Christmas, everyone!
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Meet Carolyn Crane!
I’m a writer living in Minneapolis with my husband and two daring cats. I’ve always been fascinated by hidden worlds – the wiry insides of old gadgets, the strange workings of secret societies, the mysteries of people’s minds and hearts. I’m into that as a reader and a writer, too.
My Disillusionists trilogy (Mind Games, Double Cross & Head Rush) takes place in a fantastical and shadowy Milwaukee/Chicago, a place of many secrets.
Other books include a spin-off disillusionist novella in the Wild & Steamy anthology (think of it as book 2.5, but you can read it at any point in the series). When I’m not writing novels or working at my day job as a marketing writer, I can be found reading in bed, running, helping animals, or eating Mexican food – or at www.authorcarolyncrane.com, along with sample chapters, contests and fun extras and links to my Twitter, GoodReads and Facebook. Let’s friend!
Contact Info
Website: http://authorcarolyncrane.com/
Blog: The Trillionth Page
Social Media: Facebook | Twitter | GoodReads
Want to purchase Carolyn’s novels?
Disillusionists Trilogy
- Mind Games at Amazon | Book Depository
- Double Cross at Amazon | Book Depository
- Head Rush at Amazon
Wild & Steamy (with Meljean Brook and Jill Myles) at Amazon
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Contest Time!
Thank you Carolyn for taking part in Literary Escapism’s Black Friday!
Contest Time! Carolyn is giving away a copy of Mind Games or Double Cross (winners choice). To enter, all you have to do is answer this one question: What would be the perfect gift for a hypochondriac or any of the other Disillusionists? Remember, you must answer the question in order to be entered.
Even though I’m not giving the additional entries any more, you can still help support the author by sharing their article, and this contest, on your blog, Twitter, Facebook, or anywhere you can. After all, the more people who are aware of this fabulous author ensures we get more fabulous stories.
The winner must post a review of the novel someplace. Whether it is on their own blog, Amazon, GoodReads, LibraryThing or wherever, it doesn’t matter. Just help get the word out.
All Black Friday contests will remain open until December 31st at which time I’ll determine the winner with help from the snazzy new plug-in I have. Have you checked out the other Black Friday contests yet? Check out the Master List to see all the Black Friday giveaways
I have not been contacting winners, so you will need to check back to see if you’ve won.
I’d give a hypochondriac a copy of the Physician’s Desk Reference.
Id give a hypochondriac a heating pad to be used on their various aches and pains as well as to keep them warm and prevent colds.
A book all about home health remedies!
I’d get them an appointment with a hypnotherapist.
While I don’t think there is a perfect gift, I would maybe give a hypochondriac a copy of The Imaginary Invalid by Molière.
I would give a hypochondriac a gift certificate to their favorite pharmacy so they can pick up all their favorite remedies.
Barbed1951 at aol dot com
As a humorous gift (laughter is the best medicine!), I’d get them the book The Hypochondriac’s Handbook: Syndromes, Diseases, and Ailments that Probably Should Have Killed You By Now
a web md cd that helps with diagnoses and such.
Thanks for the great contest.
scrtsbpal at yahoo dot com
I would give them a beautifully engraved pill box so they can keep all their pills in one place! :-)
I would get them something to distract them, like a lively CD, a good book, or a movie comedy so they could laugh.
I’d give them a prescription of magic cure all pills. Thanks for the giveaway! Happy Holidays!
I’d get them a mug I’ve seen for sale that says “Hypochondriacs Have It All.”
how about a medical journal or book.. lol.. or a notebook so they can write down what theyre feeling!
Hrm, that’s a tough question. Maybe an on-call physician?
Thanks for running such a fantastic event. :)
6 free sessions in Hypochondriacs anonymous
Magic cough drops. Guaranteed to get rid of the peskiest virus or bacteria.
I’d get them a medical book so they can look up their sympyoms and diagnose themselves ;)