Giveaway Ends 8/31
What does it mean to you to be called an author?
It means using my imagination to entertain and to meet people from across the world who read my books. Finding like minds and those who share my love of storytelling and unique characters. You may learn about how to write, edit, or the necessities of putting a book together, but what you write comes from within, and that is the greatest gift of all.
Which book are we talking about today?
This is the first book in the St. Benedict Series called River of Ashes. Book 2, River of Wrath, will be releasing October 18.
Can you tell us a bit about the story and its main characters?
The story begins with the heir apparent of the Devereaux family, Beau Devereaux. He is the golden boy of the town of St. Benedict and the only child of the patriarch, Gage Devereaux. It’s about his obsession with a girl he can’t have and his decline into madness along with the people he takes with him. Some survive and some do not. The first book introduces readers to the world of St. Benedict and the people who live there, as well as hints at the unraveling of a wealthy, Southern family. It is also a cautionary tale about how Mr. Right may not appear to be what he seems.
Tell us about a favorite character from the book.
My favorite character would have to be Gage Devereaux. He is a man walking a tightrope, trying to hold up his family honor, maintain the small town he oversees, run his family business, and keep up appearances. He is troubled, determined, and such an intense character. I find him fascinating.
Where did you come up with the names in the story?
I credit my co-writer, Lucas Astor, with most of the names. Devereaux I added because it’s so common where I live in Southeast Louisiana. I wanted the family who will be behind so much that happens in St. Benedict to have a name readily associated with the area.
Have you always wanted to be an author?
I don’t think it is something I always wanted, but more something I always knew I would do. From the age of eight, I found the ability of words to move people, inspire, and challenge inspiring. It was in the back of my head for a long time to be a writer. It wasn’t until I achieved my goal as a nurse that I went back to pursuing my interest in words.
What made you say to yourself, “Today, I will publish.”?
I never started out saying that. I wrote several books sitting on the sofa in my living room before publishing anything. It was my husband who said, “You have a lot of books, and you need to publish them.” So, you can blame him for my career.
What advice would you give to a writer working on their first book?
Your first book will look nothing like your tenth or thirtieth book. So don’t think this is your style. Everything you do as a writer will change based on the editors you work with and the other writers you get to know. It is comforting that a writer’s style is constantly evolving, but when you are starting, you don’t see that. You must always keep an open mind and be willing to learn from everyone you meet. Every bad review, every editor that rips your manuscript apart, and unhappy reader will make you a better writer. You just can’t give up. Ever!
What are you working on in the near future?
I have book two in the St. Benedict Series, River of Wrath, coming in October, and book three, River of Ghosts, is coming out Summer 2023. My manager will be shopping my next horror/thriller, Murder Race, to publishers soon.
Do you have any quirky writing rituals?
A lot of sticky notes, chocolate, Twizzlers, and water. And a few furry people laying around my feet.
What comes first for you — the plot or the characters?
The plot comes first. The characters develop as I write the story. I have to flesh them out as I go along.
How do you interact with your readers?
I love meeting readers at signing events. My favorite is always hearing from people through social media or via email on my website. I always welcome readers to contact me. I love hearing from them.
Which of your books would you recommend to readers who haven’t read your work?
River of Ashes would be a great start. It has all the elements of a Southern Gothic read with supernatural elements that are a must for me. Having been raised in the French Quarter, ghosts are normal and always find their way into my books. It would give anyone a taste of the characters I write and the world I love to work in.
What is your all time favorite book or author?
My all-time favorite is a series of books–The James Bond series by Ian Fleming. They are not the movies, but are detailed character studies of a man fighting all the odds. The attention to detail Fleming gave Bond made him so real. How Fleming developed his character always stuck with me.
What do you look for in a story as a reader?
Something fast-paced that keeps me on the edge of my seat with in-depth characters I want to cheer on or love to hate. Characters are the story for me. If I’m not invested in them, I lose interest.
Aside from writing or reading, what are your hobbies or interests?
I am a wildlife rehabber with the Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries, so animals are my biggest love and take up much of my time when not writing.
If you could have lunch with 3 authors (past or present) who would they be?
I would love to sit down to lunch with Tennessee Williams, Edgar Allan Poe, and Ernest Hemingway. We would talk about how they developed their characters and stories, delve into their creative processes, and of course, drink.
What would your dream library look like?
Lots of rolling ladders with books to the ceiling, a large fireplace, red leather chairs, stained glass windows, and not a soul in sight.
If you had your own talk show, what would the topic be, who would be your first guest(s)?
Wildlife Conservation and I would love to have Jane Goodall.
Name three fun facts about you or your work.
*Tennessee Williams was a family friend and gave me writing advice.
*I grew up in a haunted cottage in the French Quarter, next door to a hoodoo priestess.
*I went trick-or-treating with Roger Moore’s daughter when my father worked on Live and Let Die.
Which book would you use to open a secret room?
The Masque of the Red Death by Edgar Allan Poe.
If you knew you could not fail, what would you do?
Compete in showjumping in the Olympics. Show jumping was something I grew up doing, and I always wanted to compete internationally.
River of Ashes
by Alexandrea Weis & Lucas Astor
August 1-31, 2022
Virtual Book Tour
*Apple’s Most Anticipated Books for Summer in Mysteries & Thrillers*
SOME TRUTHS ARE BETTER KEPT SECRET. SOME SECRETS ARE BETTER OFF DEAD.
Synopsis:
Along the banks of the Bogue Falaya River, sits the abandoned St. Francis Seminary. Beneath a canopy of oaks, blocked from prying eyes, the teens of St. Benedict High gather here on Fridays. The rest of the week belongs to school and family—but weekends belong to the river. And the river belongs to Beau Devereaux. The only child of a powerful family, Beau can do no wrong. Star quarterback. Handsome. Charming. The “prince” of St. Benedict is the ultimate catch. He is also a psychopath.
A dirty family secret buried for years, Beau’s evil grows unchecked. In the shadows of the haunted abbey, he commits unspeakable acts on his victims and ensures their silence with threats and intimidation. Senior year, Beau sets his sights on his girlfriend’s headstrong twin sister, Leslie, who hates him. Everything he wants but cannot have, she will be his ultimate prize. As the victim toll mounts, it becomes clear that someone must stop Beau Devereaux. And that someone will pay with their life.
RIVER OF ASHES IS A SOUTHERN GOTHIC, PSYCHOLOGICAL THRILLER INSPIRED BY TRUE EVENTS IN THE VEIN OF V.C. ANDREWS WITH ELEMENTS OF SHARP OBJECTS BY GILLIAN FLYNN AND YOU BY CAROLINE KEPNES. RIVER OF ASHES ADDRESSES SOCIAL ISSUES INCLUDING SEXUAL VIOLENCE AND BULLYING.
Praise for River of Ashes:
“River of Ashes offers an inside look into the mind of a psychopath—a cautionary tale that the scariest monsters are the ones you know but never suspect.”
Pearry Teo, PhD; Award-Winning Director of The Assent, Executive Producer of Cloud Atlas
“A psychological portrait akin to Lord of the Flies.”
Midwest Book Review
“If Gillian Flynn and Bret Easton Ellis had a book baby, it would be River of Ashes.”
~Booktrib
Book Details:
Genre: Southern Gothic / Psychological Thriller / Coming-of-Age
Published by: Vesuvian Books
Publication Date: August 2nd 2022
Number of Pages: 284
ISBN: 1645480984 (ISBN13: 9781645480983)
Series: St. Benedict #1
Book Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Goodreads | IndieBound
Available in Kindle Unlimited
Read an excerpt:
Leslie turned off Main Street and headed along the single-lane road. The storefronts gave way to homes with colorful gardens and oaks draped with tendrils of Spanish moss. Then the houses grew sparse and disappeared as greenery hugged the side of the road. Leslie slowed to avoid a pothole and heard the rush of the Bogue Falaya River through the open windows.
The trees thinned, revealing the two stone spires of The Abbey. Apprehension snaked through her as she pictured Beau, her sister, and all the unsettling things she associated with the derelict church.
A wall of dense red buckeye bushes swaying in the breeze shrouded the road. Leslie drove through an opening someone carved out long ago. A cleared lot lay hidden beyond the dense hedge, surrounded by thick pines and oaks, with paths leading down a steep embankment to the river’s edge.
Leslie got out of the car, listening to the sweet refrain of birds in the trees. “No one’s here today.”
“It’s still too early. Everybody from school likes to come after dark.” Derek led her to a pine-straw-covered path and to the shore of the rushing river.
Something moved in the dense underbrush. Leslie walked ahead, trying to get a better look. “What’s that?”
She crossed several broken branches until she stumbled on something nestled in the foliage. The stench of rotting flesh hit her nose. She gagged and slowed to a stop.
“Wait, be careful.” Derek swept aside a few leafy twigs to get a better look.
Flies covered the bloated belly of a white-tailed deer. Deep grooves slashed into what remained of the deer’s neck. The poor animal’s hindquarters appeared torn away.
Leslie crept closer. “What could do such a thing?”
Derek took her hand and backed out of the brush. “I bet it was the wild dogs.”
Leslie let him lead her away from the stench. “What wild dogs?”
He stopped outside of the brush. “They’re around here. A couple of weeks ago, Mom said some hunters came in the diner and reported seeing them.”
“Where did they come from?” Leslie’s voice shook.
Derek guided her to a path curving down a long slope. The roar of the river grew louder.
“There are lots of stories. I heard they were left behind when the monks abandoned the place. Legend has it that when they appear, death is near.”
A shudder ran through her.
Derek tugged Leslie’s hand. “Come on.”
The path widened, and a beach came into view. The outcropping of white sand had a collection of green picnic tables, red barrel trash cans, and fire pits along the river’s edge. Around the beach, thick brush covered the shore with limbs from pine trees dipping into the water. The sun sparkled on the gentle waves.
Leslie followed him along the shoreline until they came to a rusted iron gate with a No Trespassing sign secured to it. The sign, decorated with crosses and swirls, marked the entrance to The Abbey grounds. Stepping through the open gate, she peered up at the imposing structure.
Two spires of white limestone, shaped like the tip of a sword, cut into the blue sky. A structure of red brick and limestone, the front windows and doors secured with loose scraps of plywood, sat in the middle of a field of high grass. The squat stone building of cloisters behind The Abbey remained intact. The Benedictine monks, who had run the seminary and were responsible for the preparation of future priests, demolished the dormitories, refectory, and library after they abandoned the site. The rest remained because, in the South, it was considered bad luck to tear down churches.
“Some place, huh?” Derek let go of her hand and ventured across the high grass.
A wave of panic shot through Leslie.
The grounds, unkempt after years of neglect, were a hodgepodge of weeds, overgrown trees, and vines.
Why would people come here at night?
“You ever wonder why those monks just up and left?” Leslie was uncomfortable with the eerie quiet. Even the birds had stopped singing. “Everyone says they got a better offer from the seminary in New Orleans, but it seems funny a bunch of people abandoned the place for no reason.”
Derek parted a thick pile of tall grass with his shoe. “My mom told me it was falling apart when she was a kid, and the Archdiocese didn’t have the money to fix it. So, they packed up the school and sent the monks and all the staff to New Orleans.”
“I read once that the structure dates back to the early 1800s, when the Devereaux family built it as a private church.” Leslie eyed the empty belfry atop one of the square-shaped towers. “You’d think they’d want to save it.”
Derek nudged her with his elbow. “Maybe the ghost drove them away.”
Beau’s tale had been in the back of her mind the whole time, but Derek’s comment spooked the crap out of her. “By ghost, do you mean the lady in white?”
“Yep.” He scanned the land around them. “They say she appears when the moon is full or during storms.”
The thought of being alone in such a disturbing place terrified her. “Have you ever seen the ghost?”
Derek searched the thick foliage ahead of them. “Nah. I’ve never seen anything.”
Granite steps appeared as they drew near the entrance.
Leslie kicked herself for letting him talk her into coming to this place. “What about the wild dogs? Have you seen them around The Abbey?”
“Not to worry, love, I’ll protect you from ghosts, wild dogs, and Beau Devereaux.” He climbed the steps, encouraging her to join him. “But I have to draw the line at your mother. There’s no way I’m taking her on in a fight.”
On the porch, beneath the cracked and chipped stone arch above the doors, she waited while Derek wrestled with the plywood covering the entrance. Despite the creep factor, the lush green trees surrounding them had a soothing effect. Leslie breathed in the fresh pine scent and mossy aroma of the tall grass. Then a fly zipped past her face.
Thud.
She turned and discovered Derek had pushed a large piece of plywood securing the door out of the way, leaving a nice-sized gap to crawl through.
“How did you do that?”
Derek held the plywood to the side for her. “The loose boards have been rigged to open easily.”
Leslie dipped her head and looked through the doorway. “You sure it’s safe?”
“I wouldn’t bring you here if it wasn’t, love.”
His smile won over her fears.
Once inside, it took a moment for her eyes to adjust. Pinpoints of light shone on a floor covered with clumps of debris. In the roof, thousands of holes, some big and some small, littered the space between the bare beams where parts of plaster had fallen away. Birds’ nests of light-colored hay and twigs nestled against blackish beams and shadowy eaves, creating a patchwork design on the ceiling. It reminded Leslie of the quilt her grandmother had made for her as a child.
Derek appeared, shining a beam of light on the floor.
She pointed at the flashlight. “Where did you get that?”
“Me and the guys have been here a few times. We’ve stashed stuff around the place. We even have sleeping bags and water bottles socked away.”
Here she was a nervous wreck while his friends had turned it into their personal campground. Leslie’s skin crawled at the idea of spending the night in such a place. “I don’t know why you guys come here.”
He took her hand, and the beam bounced on the dusty floor. “I don’t get why you’re so freaked out. It’s just an old building. There’s nothing sinister about it.”
Beau’s words about taking her to The Abbey sent a shiver down her spine. Any girl would be at his mercy in such a place. She questioned her sister’s choices, knowing she’d been there with Beau.
Derek swung the light across the floor, shining it on dozens of rotted pews, leaves, twigs, crumbled plaster pieces from the ceiling, and skeletons of dead birds. “Lots of animals use this place as shelter. I’ve seen possums, raccoons, deer, and once, I swear I saw a black leopard running out the back.”
Leslie became even more uneasy about being in the building. “You wouldn’t happen to have a shotgun in your stash.”
“The animals don’t bother me, just the people.”
Their footfalls echoed through the vast structure as they ventured farther. Leslie kept expecting someone or something to jump out from the shadows. Her only distraction was the intricate carvings atop the arches and the paintings on the walls. Men and angels exchanged timid glances as rays of light from parting clouds shined down.
Paintings of Noah and the flood, Adam and Eve, and other Genesis stories were barely visible on the white plaster covering the arches along the central aisle. In one spot, where the roof remained intact, she could make out the image of Moses holding the Ten Commandments. His eyes stood out the most. It was like they carried the burning wrath of God.
Shivering, Leslie looked ahead to a white archway marking the entrance to the altar. The gleam of the limestone appeared pristine. She got closer to the most sacred part of the old church, and her sense of dread rose. She spun around to face the scattered, rotting pews behind them.
“What is it?” Derek asked, taking her hand.
His voice rattled inside the hollows of the church, adding to her anxiety. They stood under the circular dome where the altar had once been, and then a low growl came from a shadowy corner.
The air left her lungs. Her senses heightened. Seconds ticked by while she listened for other sounds. “Tell me you heard that.”
Derek raised his finger to his lips and nodded to a door on his left.
***
Excerpt from River of Ashes by Alexandrea Weis & Lucas Astor. Copyright 2022 by Alexandrea Weis & Lucas Astor. Reproduced with permission from Vesuvian Books. All rights reserved.
Meet Our Authors:
Alexandrea Weis
Alexandrea Weis, RN-CS, PhD, is an IPPY Award-Winning author, advanced practice registered nurse, and wildlife rehabber who was born and raised in the French Quarter. She has taught at major universities and worked with victims of sexual assault, abuse, and mental illness in a clinical setting at many New Orleans area hospitals. She is a member of the International Thriller Writers Organization and Horror Writers Association. The Strand Magazine said, “Alexandrea Weis is one of the most talented authors around, and in a short time her novels are destined to stand along with authors such as Stephen King, Gillian Flynn, Joyce Carol Oates, and Jeffery Deaver.”
Catch Up With Alexandrea Weis:
AlexandreaWeis.com
StBenedictSeries.com
Goodreads
BookBub – @AlexandreaWeis
Instagram – @AlexandreaWeis
Twitter – @AlexandreaWeis
Facebook – @AuthorAlexandreaWeis
Lucas Astor
Author Lucas Astor is an award-winning author and poet with a penchant for telling stories that delve into the dark side of the human psyche. He likes to explore the evil that exists, not just in the world, but next door behind a smiling face. Astor currently lives outside of Nashville, TN.
Catch Up With Lucas Astor:
LucasAstor.com
Instagram – @lucasastorauthor
Tour Participants:
Visit these other great hosts on this tour for more great reviews, interviews, guest posts, and giveaways!
08/01 Guest post @ Novels Alive
08/02 Showcase @ BOOK REVIEWS by LINDA MOORE
08/04 Review @ addictedtobooks86
08/05 Review @ Lynchburg Reads
08/06 Showcase @ Nesies Place
08/08 Showcase @ Books, Ramblings, and Tea
08/09 Review @ Novels Alive
08/10 Review @ Lisa Wetzel
08/11 Interview @ I Read What You Write
08/12 Review @ tea. and. titles
08/13 Review @ sleeping. book. junkie
08/14 Review @ enjoyingbooksagain
08/15 Review @ Elaine Sapp (FB)
08/17 Review @ read_betweenthecovers
08/19 Review @ Urban Book Reviews
08/22 Guest post @ The Book Divas Reads
08/24 Showcase @ 411 ON BOOKS, AUTHORS, AND PUBLISHING NEWS
08/25 Review @ Geaux Get Lit
08/28 Review @ erikalaceyreads
08/29 Review @ Celticladys Reviews
08/30 Guest post @ The Mystery of Writing
08/30 Interview @ Urban Book Reviews
I Read What You Write! 
Wow, great interview. You have lived an interesting life!
I am also a fan of Edgar A Poe! His poem – Annabel Lee is my favorite!
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Thank you so much!
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