Julieanne Lynch Interview - Beneath the Lighthouse

Photo Content from Julieanne Lynch

Julieanne Lynch is an author of YA and Adult genre urban fantasy, crime and contemporary romance books. Julieanne was born in Northern Ireland, but spent much of her early life in London, United Kingdom, until her family relocated back to their roots.

Julieanne lives in Northern Ireland, with her husband and five children, where she is a full-time author. She studied English Literature and Creative Writing at The Open University and considered journalism as a career path. Julieanne has several projects optioned for film.

Julieanne is both traditionally and independently published.

        

Paperback: 304 pages
Publisher: Vesuvian Books (June 26, 2018)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1944109188
ISBN-13: 978-1944109189

Praise for BENEATH THE LIGHTHOUSE

“Beneath the Lighthouse grabs you by the nether regions from the word go. Then it squeezes. Hard. With a nailed glove … A truly scary ghost story … a powerful ‘coming of age’ drama … a young man growing into adulthood against a backdrop of despair and quite shocking abuse … unpredictable and ever building. Blood and bone revenge, retribution and salvation. The strength of friendship, the power of love. You feel the dread and the underlying fear … not your typical tale. And what a tale it is.” ―EM Faustus

  

Tell us your most rewarding experience since being published.
For me, it’s been a few experiences, from my growing readership—readers who took a chance on a storyteller who didn’t follow trends. A writer who simply wanted to entertain, have her voice her heard and ultimately, someone who writes the kind of books she loves to read. To being shortlisted as a finalist in the Dragon Con awards this past August. I was the only female finalist in the horror category and up against amazing writers and my idol, Stephen King. It’s all be overwhelming and magnificent.

When/how did you realize you had a creative dream or calling to fulfill?
I grew up reading. Spending much of my time stuck in my room, lost in the pages of books. I knew from an early age that I was creative. I had a flair for making up stories, jotting them down in my diary, and by the time I was fifteen, I was a hardcore Terry Pratchett and Stephen King fan, and knew that writing was my calling.

What was the single worst distraction that kept you from writing this book?
Because it is set in Northern Ireland, I was very worried about losing the authenticity. I didn’t want to bend to the pressure of cutting slang words or removing the dialect and was torn. I didn’t want to confuse readers from all over the world but wanted to remain true to my roots and where I come from. I spent a long time distracted by my own worries. In the end, I chose to stay true to myself, and it worked.

What new author has grasped your interest?
I absolutely love C.J. Tudor. I read her debut novel The Chalk Man, and it has haunted me ever since.

What was your first introduction to horror literature, the one that made you choose that genre to write?
I started reading The Glass Tower series by Stephen King when I was twelve, and soon devoured much of his work. I then found Clive Barker, Anne Rice, Bram Stoker, Ray Bradbury, Jack Ketchum—to name a few. They made my teenage years a little more bearable.

In your new book; BENEATH THE LIGHTHOUSE, can you tell my Book Nerd community a little about it.
Beneath the Lighthouse is much more than a horror story. It is a story of grief, desperation, honour and survival. We see one young man tormented by grief and subjected to cruelty from the one person who should protect him. Jamie, though he is strong, is afraid of what the future holds and see’s nothing but history repeating itself. He becomes the target of an angry entity. He’s confused and torn, but so many lies, and secrets are revealed. Jamie makes it his own personal quest to settle old scores and help those who’ve been hurt along the way.

While I write about some very tough and perhaps “trigger” subjects, I also deal with these troublesome themes with care and respect. Being a mother of five, I know all too well that young adults grow up very fast, and some, unfortunately, are victims of physical and mental abuse. It would be remiss of me to consider writing a novel, sugar coating the hardships that so many of our youth face on a day-to-day basis.

What was the most surprising thing you learned in creating Jamie?
I found myself emotionally attached to Jamie. In a sense, he became my own therapy. Having suffered from severe depression in the past, and my eldest child being on the spectrum, Jamie’s

Why do you feel you had to tell this story?
I wanted to tell this story because while there are supernatural themes in the story, it is the pure horror of man that really makes the skin crawl. I wanted to highlight the true fear that lives behind locked doors. How family life isn’t perfect, and setting it in my home country, made for a writing experience that makes me feel so proud, even to this day. It is a multifaceted novel, that tackles many subjects, and perhaps some of the content might make for an uncomfortable read, it is however, a reality of so many.

If you could introduce one of your characters to any character from another book, who would it be and why?
I’d love to introduce Jamie from BTL to Giselle from my Shadow World series. I think they would be good for each other. They’d offer one another strength and encouragement to survive. While they are both from very different worlds, I am sure they’d get on and make the most of their friendship. They are very similar with how they think and process information and situations. It would be thrilling to see them come up against evil together.

What are some of your current and future projects that you can share with us?
Presently, I am coming to the end of the sequel to Beneath the Lighthouse—What Lurks Within. It’s taken me a good year to write. But will be worth the read. I’m also penning another horroresque thriller, What the Neighbours Never Saw. I am forever busy writing and plotting.

What scares you the most?
The thought of outliving my children. I am terrible for overthinking. I’ve seen a lot of death, and fear losing one of my children. It’s a very real and scary prospect.

When did you go to your first funeral?
My grandmother died in 1986 when I was 9-years-old. I’ll always remember seeing her asleep after a stroke, still warm, then two days later I was staring at her cold and wax like corpse in a coffin. It’s a very vivid memory and has remained with me all this time.

Which incident in your life that totally changed the way you think today?
I had a nervous breakdown in 2008, prompting my move back to Ireland. I was in remission for a good few years and then relapsed earlier this year. When I look back, it’s almost like looking at myself, but seeing someone else. During the episodes, they were very frightening, and I honestly couldn’t see a future, but now, with more clarity, I am stronger and no longer afraid to say what I want.

What was a time in your life when you were really scared?
Perhaps during the delivery of my 5th child. She had decelerations on her heart and I had a broken pelvis. Having fractured it at 17 weeks. When she was delivered, she wasn’t very well and was rushed off to intensive care. I’ll never forget how hopeless I felt. I couldn’t help her and had to place all my faith in the medical team who looked after her.

When you looked in the mirror first thing this morning, what was the first thing you thought?
Oh gosh, “I need more sleep.”

BENEATH THE LIGHTHOUSE BY JULIEANNE LYNCH EXCERPT

Emer had set her alarm clock for 1:00 a.m. The house would be quiet. She didn’t want to stir her parents from their sleep. Emer snuck down the stairs. She unlocked the back door and slipped out.

Steven had parked his car close enough to the house so Emer wouldn’t have to walk too far.

Emer approached the car, staring at the back of his head. She’d piqued his interest with the picture she’d sent him. He’d texted her saying he couldn’t wait to see them in the flesh.

Emer slid into the front passenger seat and smiled at him. She had him exactly where she wanted him.

“Aren’t you the right wee madam sneaking out at this hour?” Steven winked at her.

“Aye, maybe, but who gives a feck about it?” Emer replied, trying to sound a little older.

“So, you going to show those pretty titties or what?” he asked, looking down at her ample cleavage.

“It depends.”

Steven smiled and looked at her. “Okay, I’ll show this, if you get those out.” He winked at her once more and grabbed his crotch.

Emer lifted the top of her pajamas, giving Steven an eyeful he’d never forget.

“No touching, okay?” she warned.

He stared at her chest for the longest while. His fingers twitched.

Smiling like it was Christmas morning, Emer pushed her top back down and folded her arms across her chest. “Okay, now you show me what you have down there,” she said, eagerly waiting to catch sight of his privates.

Steven unbuckled the belt of his jeans and slid down the zipper. He pushed his hand inside, intent on releasing his erection. Before he could do so, the door to the car opened.

“What the feck is going on here?” Jack asked, his eyes blazing. He looked at Steven with his hands shoved into his trousers. “You dirty wee bastard. Do you have any idea how old she is?”

Jack pulled Emer’s arm and twisted it. His nostrils flared.

“Daddy, stop this. You’re hurting me. Let me go,” Emer cried.

“You! What have I raised?” Jack roared into Emer’s face. “You trollop. Get into the house before I break your legs.”

“I’m sorry, Mr. McGuiness. It won’t happen again,” Steven cried.

“You’re fecking right, it won’t. If I see you sniffing around Emer again, I’ll kill you, and that’s a promise, lad,” Jack shouted before slamming the car’s door shut.

Steven sped off down the road.

Jack’s jaw clenched, his muscles tight. His eyes were narrowed, rigid, cold, and hard.

Emer had never seen him this enraged before. She panicked and ran back up the path.

* * *

Lights were turning on inside most of the houses on the street. People peered out of closed windows. Some opened their front doors to get a better view.

Stomping up the path, he ignored the concerned faces of his neighbors. Jack couldn’t see past the red blazing in front of him. He wanted nothing more than to rip Steven apart. His little girl behaving like a grown woman made his stomach churn. He burst through the front door, slamming it shut behind him.
Copyright © 2018 by Julieanne Lynch

SOME SECRETS ARE MADE TO BE UNCOVERED.

Sixteen-year-old Jamie McGuiness’s sister is dead. Sinking into a deep depression, he frequents the lighthouse where her body was discovered, unaware of the sinister forces surrounding him.

When an angry spirit latches onto Jamie, he’s led down a dark and twisted path, one that uncovers old family secrets, destroying everything Jamie ever believed in.

Caught between the world of the living and the vengeful dead, Jamie fights the pull of the other side. It’s up to Jamie to settle old scores or no one will rest in peace—but, first, he has to survive.

There are dark stories and there are powerful dark stories. BENEATH THE LIGHTHOUSE falls into the latter category as it embarks readers into a haunting thrill ride of spook and suspense. Author Julieanne Lynch charily weaves a story of murder, love and betrayal through brilliant writing and intricate world building. It immediately grabs the reader by the wrist and forcefully directs them from page to page.

A family is torn apart when Jamie’s sister is tragically killed after being defiant and going against their strict father. Escaping the abuse from his father, Jamie visits the place where his sister died. If things weren’t already crazy in his life, he begins to see a ghost by the lighthouse. Things get chaotic when the ghost starts talking to him and provide images of how his sister died. The ghost was just the tip of the iceberg of the horror he is about to be bestowed upon.

 
One of the key components to telling this kind of story is to make it authentic especially if it deals with the paranormal. This is where author Julieanne Lynch steps in. The research she displays in her writing makes the story progression that more enthralling and fun to read. The language and the Irish slang that are used feel natural without having to stop to validate its legitimacy. The writing etiquette is elegant that even non-believers of ghosts will appreciate the story. There are so many facets of this book that just wants to get the readers’ attention. From the synopsis to the captivating book cover art, the real bait lays between the pages where readers are hooked and can immerse themselves in a world of spook, paranormal, emotional and suspense.

You can purchase Beneath the Lighthouse at the following Retailers:

  

And now, The Giveaways.

Thank you JULIEANNE LYNCH for making this giveaway possible.

Winner will receive a Copy of BENEATH THE LIGHTHOUSE by Julieanne Lynch.
Winner will receive a $25 Dollar PayPal/Amazon Gift Card.

PART ONE

DECEMBER 17th MONDAY Sassy Book Lovers TENS LIST
DECEMBER 17th MONDAY TTC Books and More GUEST POST
DECEMBER 18th TUESDAY Stephanie's Life of Determination REVIEW & EXCERPT
DECEMBER 19th WEDNESDAY Movies, Shows, & Books EXCERPT
DECEMBER 20th THURSDAY A Dream Within A Dream TENS LIST
DECEMBER 21st FRIDAY Insane About Books REVIEW

PART TWO
DECEMBER 22nd SATURDAY A Court of Coffee and Books REVIEW
DECEMBER 22nd SATURDAY Sara Is Reading What? REVIEW
DECEMBER 23rd SUNDAY Oh Hey! Books INTERVIEW
DECEMBER 23rd SUNDAY My Book Addiction REVIEW
DECEMBER 24th MONDAY BookHounds INTERVIEW
DECEMBER 25th TUESDAY JeanBookNerd REVIEW & INTERVIEW
DECEMBER 26th WEDNESDAY Casia's Corner REVIEW
DECEMBER 26th WEDNESDAY Wishful Endings TENS LIST

PART THREE

DECEMBER 27th THURSDAY 100 Pages A Day REVIEW
DECEMBER 27th THURSDAY Lisa Loves Literature EXCERPT
DECEMBER 28th FRIDAY RhythmicBooktrovert REVIEW 
DECEMBER 28th FRIDAY Crossroad Reviews REVIEW
DECEMBER 29th SATURDAY My Chaotic Ramblings REVIEW
DECEMBER 29th SATURDAY Sabrina's Paranormal Palace REVIEW
DECEMBER 30th SUNDAY Book Lovers Life EXCERPT

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