Just Romantic Suspense: Lions and Tigers and Bears, Oh My!
Congratulations to "Maureen C.", the winner in Carey's giveaway. Thank you to all who participated!
We all have something we’re afraid of, though it may not always rise to the level of a true phobia. A phobia, according to the DSM-5 (the diagnostic and statistical manual for mental disorders) is a fear that must have been present for at least six months and must interfere with a person’s ability to carry out his daily life. But like I said, phobia or not, we’re all afraid of something!
I remember when I decided to become a physician, my first thought was that I was afraid of needles- a pretty common fear. But I’m sure you can see how that would be a problem for a would-be doctor. What did I do when faced with the choice of hanging onto that fear or going to medical school? You guessed it. I sucked it up and applied to medical school, and when I was accepted, I simply pretended I wasn’t afraid of needles until eventually…I wasn’t anymore. I think that’s how most of us handle simple fears. We just face them, and they dissipate on their own with time and exposure. Like me and medical school, or the like the Tin Man, Dorothy and the Scarecrow in the Wizard of Oz.
But sometimes our fears aren’t so easily resolved. Sometimes we can’t carry on until we get help for them.
In my new release, CONFESSION. The serial killer in the story has one little problem: He’s afraid of blood. Big time. And he can’t go on with his “work” until his phobia is cured. So he seeks out the help of my heroine, newly-minted psychiatrist, Faith Clancy, who has no idea she’s dealing with the grisly serial killer known as the Santa Fe Saint. Here’s the blurb for the book, which released today from Harper Collins Witness Impulse at a special introductory price of $1.99.
A dark, psychological suspense. For fans of Allison Brennan and Karen Rose comes Carey Baldwin, a daring new name in suspense, with the story of a serial killer out for blood—and the only woman who can stop his reign of terror.
Faith is going to need all her wits and the help of a powerful adversary, Luke Jericho, if she's to unravel the truth. But she doesn't realize she's about to become an unwitting pawn in a serial killer's diabolical game. For once he's finished with Faith, she’s to become his next victim.
Carey Baldwin is a mild-mannered physician by day and the author of edgy romantic thrillers by night. What’s a nice girl like Carey doing writing dark psychological suspense with romantic elements? When you’re a former clinical psychologist, writing about psychopaths comes naturally, and when you’re a hopeless romantic…, well, you do the math!
Thanks so much to my lovely hostess at Just Romantic Suspense for having me here today. I’d like to thank readers for participating by giving a ten-dollar gift card (winner’s choice of Amazon or Barnes and Noble) to one lucky commenter. You know my secret phobia used to be a fear of needles. Do you have any secret fears or phobias?
Giveaway ends 11:59pm EST March 12th. Please supply your email in the post. You may use spaces or full text for security. (ex. jsmith at gmail dot com) If you do not wish to supply your email, or have trouble posting, please email maureen@JustRomanticSuspense.com with a subject title of JRS GIVEAWAY to be entered in the current giveaway.
I am looking forward to reading your new book. And congratulations!
I am almost finished your 'First Do No Harm'. You are a remarkable writer.
As for the 'spider' phobia. Since my husband died I now have to deal with them myself for the first time in my life and from a wheelchair. Like you, I am resourceful and face my fear.
Hi Janet! Thanks so much for your kind words! I hope you'll enjoy Confession too. Fear of bugs is common, and especially spiders. Personally, I'm terrified of crickets. I once refused to get out of my car at the grocery store because of too many crickets! Janet, you sound very resourceful, and I am sure you face down the spiders fearlessly! Thanks again, Carey.
I have a fear of bugs. When I see one in the house it makes my skin crawl and those big spiders are horrifying. I get over the fear by making my husband remove them from the house.
Creepy Crawly Bugs. Me too! Thanks Maureen!
I have a fear of water as in drowning. I remember as a child I was terrified of driving over a bridge. I am better, but I still have an occasional nightmare. I can wade in a pool, but cannot get deeper than waist deep.
Thanks Trish! Good for you though for giving the water a try. Waist deep is a great start. Thanks for commenting!
Can't wait to start reading!!! Congratulations!
Thanks so much Lynne! I hope you'll enjoy the story!
Congrats on the new release, Carey. At times I have a social phobia, especially public speaking.
Thanks so much, Jane. I haven't ever tried toastmasters but I've heard people rave about how that helped them with the same issue. Thanks again for commenting!
Thanks so much Colleen! I think think rollercoasters are a great example of how we often love that idea of experiencing danger in a safe way. Thanks for commenting!
Hate spiders, bees and lightening with a passion. Your new book looks good!
Thanks so much for your comments, Judi!
Grasshoppers!! Can't stand them, also tree frogs. Thanks for the giveaway. Going to amazon and buying the book now!
Thanks so much, Martha! Oh my goodness. Every time someone names a fear, I realize I have that too. A boy at church camp put a grasshopper down my back and I've really never recovered .
Congrats Carey on the new release! It sounds thrilling :) To be perfectly honest, I never had any "phobias". Oh... there are things I don't enjoy like spiders and snakes but I've experienced debilitating fear over them.
That's wonderful Erin. And thanks for the kind words!
Maureen thanks so much for hosting me today! I had a wonderful time with you and your readers!
My secret phobia, not so secret really, would be maggots. Just typing the word makes my skin crawl.
I am afraid of heights and rats and mice.
Downloaded CONFESSION this morning but will have to wait till the weekend to read it.