Pianissimo in Italian - coming soon!

Pianissimo, my paranormal story, is coming soon in Italiano! ;)

Copertura Reveal!

Pianissimo di Lauren Shiro

Darryl e Corinne Richards comprano la loro prima casa. La carriera nell’esercito di Darryl sta giungendo al termine, e la coppia si sente pronta a sistemarsi a Louisville, nel Kentucky. Con impeccabile tempismo, Darryl viene inviato nella sua ultima missione, e Corinne deve vivere nella nuova casa e nella nuova città da sola.

Sopraffatta, Corinne si isola e conduce una vita tranquilla e noiosa con le sue gatte, adattandosi alla nuova città. Il problema è che qualcuno o qualcosa non vuole che la sua vita sia né tranquilla né noiosa. E poi c’è quell’inquietante pianoforte in cantina…

C’è qualcosa dietro all’inquietante pianoforte sgangherato e alla nuova casa, più di quanto Corinne possa immaginare. Tra alti e bassi, colpi di scena e risvolti inaspettati, comincia a capire che anche una melodia suonata con dolcezza è potente – e anche anche le dolci rivelazioni e i minimi cambiamenti possono avere effetti profondi.

http://books.noisetrade.com/laurenshiro/preview-pianissimo-italian

The Holiday Season is here!!!

The holiday season is here. And I have the perfect follow up to Pianissimo! It's called First Christmas.

Check this out:

https://vhpbooktours.com/2016/10/30/first-christmas-a-holiday-short-story-by-lauren-shiro-now-available-in-all-ebook-editions/

Halloween 2016!!!

Happy Halloween, kids!

To celebrate the spookiest of days, we have to talk about my paranormal story, Pianissimo.

Here's a little excerpt sure to put a chill in your spine:

The outside world was morphed and swirled around through the old leaded glass. Corinne stole an extra glance at the warped view as she vacuumed the cat hair off the area rug and then the couch. She smiled at the quirkiness of the old windows. Sweat raced down her face as she cleaned diligently despite the horrid hot, humid weather. After several minutes, she finally stopped the vacuum.
   As soon as the whirl of the motor died down, Corinne thought she heard something. She strained to hear it. After concentrating for a few silent moments, she could finally make out the faint sound of a woman crying.
   Why was there a woman crying? Was someone hurt? Did something happen? Corinne hoped whoever it was was alright.
   Panic stricken for the other person, Corinne ran through the house looking in every room, opening every door. What was going on? Who was that? There was no one in the house. She ran out through the back door to see if any of her neighbors were hurt. Not one sign of life. What in the world?   Something had to be happening.
   She could still hear the cries.
   Corinne walked briskly back into the house. As she came in, she felt drawn to the inside basement door.
   Corinne went to slide back the lock, but it was so hot, it singed her hand. Corinne immediately removed her hand from the door. She looked at her palm which was blazing red. She blew gently on it to try to ease the scorch. The crying was clearer now.
   Braving the lock once again, Corinne quickly undid the latch. She pushed the door open with all her
might. The darkness rose up the stairs like billowing clouds of smoke. There it was. The crying was clear and loud now. A woman wept down in dark, dank basement.
   “Hello?” Corinne’s voice trembled with fear. “Hello? Who are you? Are you ok? Do you need help?”
   Her voice echoed mildly down the stairs.
   The crying continued.
   “Who are you? Are you okay? Do you need help?” Corinne repeated herself.
   Still no response, only sobs.
   Corinne stood at the stop of the stairs, frozen with fear. The burn on her hand began to throb. She looked at her hand. Her palm was red and beginning to blister. Yet, there were no signs of fire. No smoke, there was no scent of anything burning, no crackling or visible flames. Was it possible the fire had only just begun? Why was the door so hot that she couldn’t touch it? If she were to go down there to help this woman, would she end up hurt herself? She was truly torn: unsure of whether to brave the basement stairs or tend to her hand.
   After a perceived eternity, the sobbing suddenly began to fade away. Just as when it began, Corinne found herself straining to hear this woman once again. Eventually, there was utter silence.
   Now paralyzed by both fear and confusion, Corinne stood in place and looked back at her hand. The blister was gone and her palm looked completely normal. No longer red, no longer painful. As if nothing had happened, life in the house was still and peaceful again.


There's plenty more where that came from! For more hauntingly good stories, check out Pianissimo (as well as my other books):

https://www.amazon.com/Pianissimo-Lauren-Shiro-ebook/dp/B00OEOTZMC/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1477920352&sr=8-1&keywords=pianissimo+lauren+shiro

Happy Halloween!

Pianissimo...en Espanol?!

Pianissimo va a llegar en espanol!

Say what?

It's true, folks! Pianissimo has been translated into Spanish and the Spanish edition is coming soon! I am VERY excited about this, and am hoping that this will be the first of many translated versions of all of my books. For now, check this out:

Con carrera de Darryl ejército llegando a su fin, él y su esposa, Corinne, se sienten listos para instalarse en Louisville, Kentucky. Darryl es enviado en una gira final, dejando solo Corinne a vivir en esta nueva casa y nueva ciudad. Pero alguien o algo no quiere que ella tiene una vida tranquila o aburrida. Y luego está el piano espeluznante en el sótano…

REVIEWS (English Editions)

Imagine a piano, once beautiful now old, that holds a secret to change a young woman’s life.

A fascinating concept revealed through letters and an ancient much abused piano. A young couple buys an old house . The man goes off to his last tour in a war zone and left alone, the wife discovers more than she expected when she enters the basement.

Secrets, an exquisite love story from another era are revealed as the young woman struggles to remove paint from the piano where beneath the ugly green lies mahogany. Pianissimo is a story of growth, understanding and love to capture the reader’s heart.

~~Don Thorkelson

I loved reading all the history of the family, house and piano…

What a great idea! I loved reading all the history of the family, house and piano..and tying it in to the present day. I found the book to be very interesting and I was totally invested in what happened to the characters.

~~Suecup

She just gets better and better with her details

Lauren has outdone herself with [Painissimo]! She just gets better and better with her details, adjectives and story lines. This is a MUST READ!

She can capture your mind right into the book. You will see yourself in the midst of the drama. Don’t forget to read her other classics as well!

~~Lisa Cogar

¡Próximamente! ¡En Español!

https://vhpbooktours.com/2016/08/24/cover-reveal-pianissimo-lauren-shiro-spanish/

It's June!

Hi gang!

Are ya all tuckered out from 2 months of A to Z? I am! LOL.

It's June. So...now what?

Well, during all the A to Z alphabet-ness, Keystone Alliance Gaylife Newsletter had their annual Readers' Choice Awards. For the third time since 2012, Vick and I were named LGBT Couple of the Year. That was very exciting, and humbling.

I figure that if we won that (and now have won that a few times), I must know what I'm writing about. Maybe my stories of love without boundaries have some merit after all! ;)

Maybe you should find out for yourself, and then you could let me know for certain. ;)

Happy reading!!!

All of my titles

As a new year is about to dawn, let's review all of my books, so you know what you have to look forward to reading in 2016.

Listed in Alphabetical Order:

Amnesie

What happens to love when life changes? Two women in love, one debilitating change...
http://www.amazon.com/Amnesie-Lauren-Shiro-ebook/dp/B007NJQZZA/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8



First Christmas

A heartwarming holiday short story - Corrine and Darryl haven't spent much time together, with Darryl away in the military. Now, Darryl is coming home. Corrine has changed... grown... become a woman he barely knows... a woman who amazes him at every turn. He's coming home to their first home for their first Christmas... together, at last.
http://www.amazon.com/First-Christmas-Holiday-Short-Story-ebook/dp/B00PPOZD2G/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8



Imperfect/Impeccable

                                                                                

Carol Mathers: born a sickly child, in a home fraught with undercurrents that threaten to sweep away any chance she might have for a normal life. Now in her mid-thirties, she's a highly sought-after IT guru in St. Louis. She has built a great life for herself with her partner, Alexandria, even though the two face prejudice as lesbians, and as an interracial couple -fighting tragedy and sometimes, finding triumph. During her tumultuous life, Carol discovers that she has acquired AIDS as a result of a childhood transfusion from the dark period of time before AIDS was widely known... or understood, not even by the medical profession. Now, the two women face even more obstacles, prejudice, and a strange, new life as AIDS patients. Carol learns just how much her chaotic past has affected her, and how she can never really escape it, even as she tries to move on with her life. An unexpected event creates even more pain and tragedy in Carol's life, and causes her to wonder about the meaning of and purpose of her own life... or if there is any purpose at all... 

(Impeccable) Carol - abandoned - waiting...for what, she couldn't know. She couldn't see that there was more life waiting for her. Carol is forced to face the demons of her past as well as begin to face life without Alex. Struggling to make sense of it all, Carol experiences her new life and all of the highs and lows that come with that life.

http://www.amazon.com/Imperfect-Lauren-Shiro-ebook/dp/B00KXHUN84/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8
http://www.amazon.com/Impeccable-Lauren-Shiro-ebook/dp/B00KXNR1LA/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8



Loving Her:

The Ballerina

A southern, redheaded, pickup driving lesbian ballerina? You bet! Meet Liz: a southern belle with flair. Vivacious, eclectic and graceful, she is unique to say the least. The first in the series of Loving Her stories, Liz’s story is the kind that stays with you long after you’ve closed the book.
http://www.amazon.com/Ballerina-Loving-Her-Book-ebook/dp/B00EP01SP2/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8


The Cop

Donna White is one tough cop. Behind the badge, though, is a very sweet, sad, sensitive soul. Truly a woman alone, Donna is simply trying to navigate her way through life. Who is Donna? She is dedicated, determined, distinctive and deep. Donna’s rich and touching story is second in the Loving Her series.
http://www.amazon.com/Cop-Loving-Her-Book-ebook/dp/B00FW3VWF2/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8

The Mechanic

Linda - her name means beautiful... After facing rejection from her parents because she is a lesbian, Linda didn’t feel beautiful... she felt lost and alone.
As a skilled mechanic, Linda built her business... Her love life was a different matter. Until Katie...
http://www.amazon.com/Mechanic-Loving-Her-Book-ebook/dp/B00GMPBKS8/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8


The Model

She's exotic. She's beautiful. She's talented. She's unique. She's Stephania. A young successful model who started from nothing, she has experienced all the ups and downs of life. Never one to be kept down, she persists through life's trials and reaches for the fairytale ending she has always hoped for. Stephania's emotional journey is the fourth story in the Loving Her series.
http://www.amazon.com/Model-Loving-Her-Book-ebook/dp/B00GVLL3NA/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8


The Peace Officer

Brynn Racanelli is a daughter, a sister, a friend, a partner, a police officer, and so much more. Devoted to serving others through her police work, and to helping her sister who battles chronic Lyme Disease, she is the the poster child of selflessness. But she does have wants, needs, hopes, and dreams. After the sad ending of a long term relationship, she wonders if she will ever be able to get what she wants. Will fate finally bring her the life and love she’s always dreamed of?
http://www.amazon.com/Peace-Officer-Loving-Her-Book-ebook/dp/B00ICQWXCW/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8


The Shelter Director

Shy, quiet, humble – Jen is the kind of person that would give you the shirt off her back and then ask you what else you need. She may not be a movie star, but she’ll treat you like one. She works diligently to help save cats. She sacrifices her life and stability to accommodate her partner. She gives until it hurts, and her reward is a devastating diagnosis. What will her life become?
http://www.amazon.com/Shelter-Director-Loving-Her-Book-ebook/dp/B00JCI6CXA/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8


The Vet Student

One night changed everything for Katie. From that moment on, her life was propelled forward like a rocket. Determined to escape the small town and her religious, stifling parents, Katie works hard to get into veterinary school... in Philadelphia.

Katie refused to let anything – or anyone – destroy her dream. Not even her own parents. Even in the face of danger, Katie held true to herself and her beliefs. She suffered many losses along the way, but she gained so much more. Tumultuous and tender, Katie’s story closes the Loving Her series... for now.
http://www.amazon.com/Vet-Student-Loving-Her-Book-ebook/dp/B00L5WJXCS/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8


The Writer

Everyone has that one friend; the mother of the group. Maria is that one friend; nurturing, wise, and with a spicy streak, Maria is the matriarch of the clan. An emotionally challenging family relationship that threatens to interfere with the love she'd given up ever finding again...with Stephania. Cerebral, emotional, and even sometimes comical, Maria’s story is the seventh in the Loving Her series.
http://www.amazon.com/Writer-Loving-Her-Book-ebook/dp/B00K6ZEAAU/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8



Pianissimo

Darryl and Corinne Richards purchase their first house. With Darryl’s army career coming to a close, they feel ready to settle down in Louisville, Kentucky. With impeccable timing, Darryl is sent on one final tour, leaving Corinne to live in this new house and new city alone. Overwhelmed, Corinne becomes reclusive, living a quiet, boring life with her cats as she adjusts to her new surroundings. The problem is: someone or some thing does not want her life to be either quiet or boring. And then there’s the creepy piano in the basement… There is more to that creepy, dilapidated piano and her new home than Corinne could ever imagine. Through highs and lows, twists and turns, she begins to understand that even the most softly played music is powerful – and that even soft realizations and quietly subtle changes can have a profound effect.
http://www.amazon.com/Pianissimo-Lauren-Shiro/dp/0692310819/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8



Trajectory

Joe Davis has spent the last four years of his life behind a turrent scope as a sniper for the Detroit PD's SWAT Team. A fateful call sends Joe and his team deep into the Detroit ghetto; and reminds him that there is more to life than what's on the other end of his gun.

Albeit short, this story is chock full of details and insights
into the life of a police SWAT officer.
http://www.amazon.com/Trajectory-Lauren-Shiro-ebook/dp/B004VS2GP4/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8



Unbreakable Hostage

Lareina Oliveira; she wants to share her passion for math. So it is back to school for Lareina… a tough Ph.D. program. A classmate is captivated by Lareina’s beauty and intelligence, and despite her repeated refusals to his attentions, he kidnaps her! Only her determination and wits can save her…
http://www.amazon.com/Unbreakable-Hostage-Lauren-Shiro/dp/0615902456/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8

Happy reading and happy new year!

Pianissimo for the holidays

It's December!

It's crazy to think we're at the end of 2015 already, isn't it?! Time goes by WAY too quickly!

Since the holidays are officially upon us, I thought it might be a good idea to look at my books as gifts for the readers on your list...or even yourself! ;)

This week, we'll look at Pianissimo.

Pianissimo is multi-facited. First you have the story of Corinne, a lonely military wife. Just when she thinks she is done worrying about her husband being sent off, he goes on one final deployment. She finds herself lonely and depressed. She needs to discover herself, and to find peace in her solitude.

There is the paranormal aspect of Corinne's house. She and her husband, Darryl, bought the house right before that final deployment. It's an old house, chock full of stories and secrets. For as lonely as Corinne feels, she soon discovers that she's actually not alone.

Finally, there's the story of Agnes and Margaret. A love story. A life story. These two women lead extraordinary lives, and they leave a glorious trail of letters, photographs, and even a diary, so their legacy can live on.

Pianissimo is a story about women. It is a story about the strength of women, the resiliency of women, the determination of women, the capability of women, the enduring spirit of women. It is much a human story as it is a paranormal story and/or a love story.

For readers who love books with tremendous depth, palpable emotions, multiple elements, and a feel good story, Pianissimo is a great book!

Get your copy here!

4.5 Stars
Darryl and Corinne Richards purchase their first house. With Darryl’s army career coming to a close, they feel ready to settle down in Louisville, Kentucky. With impeccable timing, Darryl is sent on one final tour, leaving Corinne to live in this new house and new city alone. Overwhelmed, Corinne becomes reclusive, living a quiet, boring life with her cats as she adjusts to her new surroundings. The problem is: someone or some thing does not want her life to be either quiet or boring. And then there’s the creepy piano in the basement… There is more to that creepy, dilapidated piano and her new home than Corinne could ever imagine. Through highs and lows, twists and turns, she begins to understand that even the most softly played music is powerful – and that even soft realizations and quietly subtle changes can have a profound effect

Halloween WeWriWa!

Happy Halloween! Today is the day for good scares. So, in keeping with October's tradition of all things frightening, I am once again sharing snippets from Pianissimo. What better way to celebrate Halloween than with a paranormal story?!

Click www.wewriwa.com for more information and to see other 8 Sentence Sunday posts.

This post is part of an ongoing blog hop hosted by Weekend Writing Warriors. Every Sunday, participating authors post eight sentences from a published work or even a WIP (work in progress). Then we hop to our fellow warriors’ blogs and check out all the fabulous fiction that’s happening! It's a great way to meet readers, writers, and your next favorite book!  :)

Background on the snippet: Corinne is going to do laundry when she suddenly sees the ghost of Agnes Walker.


Snippet edited to fit in 10 sentences:

        Corinne brought a small load of laundry down the rickety stairs into the basement when something caught her eye. A figure stood by the old mangled piano. It was her – the woman from her dream and in those pictures: it was Agnes!
     Tall and lean, and figure and her face were undeniable. 
     Slowly, Agnes turned to look at Corinne. Her face was wrinkled, yet regal; her hair was elegantly worn up; her clothes were an echo of days gone by. Her eyes grew wide and bright for a moment. “Margaret?” There was an unusual quality to her voice: a whisper, and yet a scream; clear, yet scratchy - hers was a voice like none Corinne had ever heard before.
     Corinne stood, holding the laundry basket, unable to move.



Hope you liked it!
Happy reading!
http://www.amazon.com/Pianissimo-Lauren-Shiro/dp/0692310819/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1427504023&sr=8-1&keywords=lauren+shiro

Another Chilling WeWriWa Snippet from Pianissimo

'Tis the season for some good scares. So, in keeping with October's tradition of all things frightening, I am once again sharing snippets from Pianissimo. What better way to celebrate Halloween than with a paranormal story?!

Click www.wewriwa.com for more information and to see other 8 Sentence Sunday posts.

This post is part of an ongoing blog hop hosted by Weekend Writing Warriors. Every Sunday, participating authors post eight sentences from a published work or even a WIP (work in progress). Then we hop to our fellow warriors’ blogs and check out all the fabulous fiction that’s happening! It's a great way to meet readers, writers, and your next favorite book!  :)

Background on the snippet: 
Corinne has just discovered the old, dilapidated piano in the basement of her new home while she waits for some service men to deliver a new washer and dryer.

Snippet edited to fit in 8 sentences:

     She walked over to it. She could only imagine the beautiful music that had once been played on the old piece. She softly touched it. A burst of a cold sensation struck her hand and raced up her arm. Corinne immediately dropper her hand. The cold feeling was gone.
     She was struck by a burst of energy while she continued to stare at the piano.
     “Hello,” a man’s voice echoed down the stairs.




Hope you liked it!
Happy reading!
http://www.amazon.com/Pianissimo-Lauren-Shiro/dp/0692310819/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1427504023&sr=8-1&keywords=lauren+shiro

More Halloween Hauntings from Pianissimo

'Tis the season for some good scares. So, in keeping with October's tradition of all things frightening, I am once again sharing snippets from Pianissimo. What better way to celebrate Halloween than with a paranormal story?!

Click www.wewriwa.com for more information and to see other 8 Sentence Sunday posts.

This post is part of an ongoing blog hop hosted by Weekend Writing Warriors. Every Sunday, participating authors post eight sentences from a published work or even a WIP (work in progress). Then we hop to our fellow warriors’ blogs and check out all the fabulous fiction that’s happening! It's a great way to meet readers, writers, and your next favorite book!  :)

Background on the snippet: 
Corinne is washing the dishes when she hears someone speak. This isn't the first time this has happened. Her husband, Darryl, is deployed, though - she's alone in her house. So who is speaking to her?

Snippet edited to fit in 9 sentences:

There it was again. A voice - a strange voice. She couldn’t tell if it was a man or a woman speaking. It was almost like a scratchy whisper. It was very weird. It was like nothing she had ever heard before, and yet she couldn’t be sure she actually heard anything.
Maybe she hadn’t. Maybe it was just her imagination playing games with her. This isolation and solitude was definitely taking a toll on her; It was probably nothing more than that.


Hope you liked it!
Happy reading!
http://www.amazon.com/Pianissimo-Lauren-Shiro/dp/0692310819/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1427504023&sr=8-1&keywords=lauren+shiro

Halloween Scares for WeWriWa!

(Said with an Eastern European accent) Good evening!

Ok, just kidding. 'Tis the season for some good scares, though. So, in keeping with October's tradition of all things frightening, I am once again sharing snippets from Pianissimo. What better way to celebrate Halloween than with a paranormal story?!

Click www.wewriwa.com for more information and to see other 8 Sentence Sunday posts.

This post is part of an ongoing blog hop hosted by Weekend Writing Warriors. Every Sunday, participating authors post eight sentences from a published work or even a WIP (work in progress). Then we hop to our fellow warriors’ blogs and check out all the fabulous fiction that’s happening! It's a great way to meet readers, writers, and your next favorite book!  :)

Background on the snippet: 
Corinne is having a dream that is more of a vision than anything else. This depiction is an image that will return to her again later on in the story.

Snippet in 9 sentences:

     A tall, thin woman stood in the dark, her arm rested heavily on some kind of ledge – perhaps a bureau or other piece of furniture. It was too dark to tell. The moonlight slithered its way in through the window, shadowing her tall, lean figure on the wall. She didn’t move. She couldn’t move. Even if she could, she wouldn’t want to. The silence pierced her soul. The room sat mute, but the woman seemed tense and overwrought with the noise in her own mind.
     Unable to breathe, unable to move, the woman stayed motionless; the furniture was the only thing

supporting her.


Hope you liked it!
Happy reading!
http://www.amazon.com/Pianissimo-Lauren-Shiro/dp/0692310819/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1427504023&sr=8-1&keywords=lauren+shiro

The Hardest Thing I've Ever Written

As I reflect back on these last few months, delving deeply into the souls of my characters, I am exhausted.

Though it may sound odd, these Character of the Week posts are arguably the hardest thing I have ever written.

I know these people inside and out, and yet there was more to them than even I knew. I had to unearth old pain, old stories. I had to make sense of their neuroses. I had to give you more. I had to give them more.

The process was lengthy. Describing the soul of someone is no easy task. I also had to learn more about each and every one of them. There was a lot of time, thought, and energy that went into each of these characters, and each of these posts.

There were times I was shocked. There were times I was scared. There were times I was sad. These back stories often took unusual and unexpected twists and turns. I learned so much more about them.

I'll admit that there were times I felt incredibly vulnerable writing these. I experienced their pain, shame, and vulnerability. It was a very deep and emotional process.

Now that it's all said and done, I hope that you not only know and better understand my characters, but that you now have a greater connection to them and their stories. I hope you have come to love them the way I do. I hope their personalities and quirks make more sense to you. I hope you appreciate them for all that they are.
                                                 


I thank you for joining me in this journey. I hope that you enjoyed the opportunity to better know and understand my characters. I hope that this was as great an experience for you as it was for me.

Thank you again, and happy reading!