I am thrilled to be hosting a spot on the THE HAUNT by SamiJo McQuiston Blog Tour hosted by Rockstar Book Tours. Check out my post and make sure to enter the giveaway!
About The Book:
Author: SamiJo McQuiston
Pub. Date: October 8, 2024
Publisher: Hats Off Imaginarium
Formats: Hardcover, Paperback, eBook
Pages: 253
Find it: Goodreads, https://books2read.com/THE-HAUNT
Read for FREE With A Kindle Unlimited membership!
The best bookstores are haunted.
My name is Hecate Grimm, and I own a bookshop. It’s pretty average as far as bookstores go. Nothing special to see here, or at least that’s what my regulars believe. They also think I’m a ventriloquist, special effects guru, and dedicated actress.
Clearly, when it was raining brains, the vast majority went out with umbrellas. I’ve told them, time and time again that I’m a witch, and this is a haunted bookstore, which is why it’s called The Haunt.
But no, it’s much easier to believe I wasted time learning to throw my voice and hanging invisible wires all over the place. After all, you’re modern people. How could anything supernatural be going on right under your noses?
Maiden, Mother, and Crone—the stupidity of it makes me sick. I guess you can come in if you must. Look around and actually buy something since you’ve had the audacity to interrupt my book. Just don’t wear out your welcome or waste my time with your idiotic questions. I have fictional characters to get back to, and they’re all more interesting than you.
EXCERPT
My name is Hecate Grimm, and I own a bookshop. For those of you not into myths and legends, you pronounce my name, Hecka (like we’re going to have a hecka of a time) and tea (like that ambrosia from the gods that keeps me kicking). Heh-kuh-tee. I have two sisters, Eos and Nyx, who are also named after Greek deities. What can I say? My parents love their mythology.
Now, the shop is pretty normal, as far as bookstores go. Nothing special to see here, or at least that’s what my regulars believe. They also think I’m a ventriloquist, special effects guru, and dedicated actress. No one said they were the brightest crayons in the box. After all, they’re modern people. How could anything supernatural be going on right under their noses?
We call the store, The Haunt. I inherited it from my grandmother, but it’s not one of those family things. Sometimes it works out that way, but The Haunt must be inherited by a witch or warlock and, hopefully, one who’s interested in books, though that hasn’t always been the case either.
“Come on, Hecate,” Jason whined. “They’re in good shape. Just give me two credits for the lot.”
“No,” I said without looking up from the newest Harry Dresden novel. “That box smells like cigars and unwashed genitals. I’ll never be able to flip them.”
“I’ll admit I should have ditched the box, but the books are solid. Look, they don’t stink at all,” he said, taking a big whiff of a paperback with a black and orange cover. I moved my head to the side as he shoved it under my nose. There was no noticeable smell, but I disliked anyone in my bubble.
“Jason, you have two seconds to vacate my personal space before you’re banned for life,” I said, and he backed up quickly.
“Sorry, Hecate. They really are good books, though. Come on, just one credit, then? That’s a bargain. All these for one measly credit.”
I glared at him and glanced into the box. There were likely a few salvageable items, but he was being pushy, and I couldn’t reward that type of behavior.
About SamiJo McQuiston:
SamiJo is a first-class shenanigator, decorated coddiwompler, narrator, creator, and author of The Abney Kelly series and The Haunt (coming October 8th). She also has a short story, One Samhain Night, published in the UJ Plainsong literary journal in April 2024, and a poem, The Bottom, coming out in collaboration with other North Dakota authors in late 2024. She lives in North Dakota with her husband (Andy), dogs (Puck, Enzo, and Bailey), and three cats (Horus, Anubis, and Snow Kitty). In her spare time, she reads, writes, listens to audiobooks, plays video games, and enjoys D&D on the weekends.
On a more serious note, writing is everything to SamiJo. As a sickly child, she often spent her time indoors or at the hospital before they figured out she had asthma. At that time, books were her best friends. Without fairy tales, the Dear America Books, and authors like Diana Wynne Jones, Jim Sukach, Anne Martin, and Richard Peck, she would have been unthinkably lonely. She aims to write stories that give people a much-needed escape from reality and create places to go when getting out the front door is too much to bear.
Website | Blog | Twitter | Bluesky | Facebook | Instagram | TikTok | Goodreads | Amazon
Giveaway Details: 2 Giveaways!
1 winner will receive a tote, water bottle, hardback copy of THE HAUNT, and a $25 Amazon gift card, US only.
Ends November 5th, midnight EST.
Also, as a fun release game, Sami is having a coloring/caption contest. You can download the picture HERE. Coloring pages should be emailed to samijo.mcquiston@hatsoffimaginarium.org. The illustrator L.K. Kaphengst will judge the entries. Please send in all entries by 10/25/2024. The winner will receive a signed copy of the book and a $25 gift card!
http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/e2389ba21849/?
Tour Schedule:
Week One:
| 10/7/2024 | Rajiv’s reviews | Excerpt/IG Post |
| 10/8/2024 | Daily Waffle | Excerpt |
| 10/9/2024 | Two Chicks on Books | Guest Post/IG Post |
| 10/10/2024 | Fire and Ice Reads | Guest Post/IG Post |
| 10/11/2024 | Lady Hawkeye | Guest Post/IG Post |
Week Two:
| 10/14/2024 | @callistoscalling | IG Post |
| 10/15/2024 | The Momma Spot | Guest Post |
| 10/16/2024 | Edith’s Little Free Library | IG Post/TikTok Post |
| 10/17/2024 | Sudeshna Loves Reading | Interview |
| 10/18/2024 | Book Review Virginia Lee Blog | Excerpt/IG Post |
Week Three:
| 10/21/2024 | @enjoyingbooksagain | IG Review |
| 10/22/2024 | The Real World According to Sam | Review/IG Post |
| 10/23/2024 | jlreadstoperpetuity | IG Review/TikTok Post |
| 10/24/2024 | TX Girl Reads | Review/IG Post |
| 10/25/2024 | thefashoionistfiles | Review/IG Post |
Week Four:
| 10/28/2024 | Kim’s Book Reviews and Writing Aha’s | Review/IG Post |
| 10/29/2024 | @alexandriavwilliams_ | IG Review/TikTok Post |
| 10/30/2024 | A Blue Box Full of Books | IG Review/LFL Drop Pic/TikTok Post |
| 10/31/2024 | Country Mamas With Kids | Review/IG Post |
| 11/1/2024 | Deal sharing aunt | Review/IG Post |